It was springtime in Paris! From high on Queen Emerald’s magic ladybird, Pearlie could see many grand buildings, the Eiffel Tower, and beautiful parks bursting with fresh flowers.
‘Hurly-burly!’ sang Pearlie. She was thrilled to be visiting one of the world’s loveliest cities when it was at its prettiest.
Pearlie arrives in Paris for a holiday with Fifi, a fairy who lives in the garden of the Royal Palace (Jardin du Palais Royal). Instead she is met by a flustered, slightly bossy French fairy. After an initial misunderstanding, Pearlie helps Fifi prepare for the showing of her new Spring fashion collection. Pearlie is overwhelmed by the gorgeous, if slightly impractical for her, gowns. When disaster strikes overnight, in the shape of a runaway snail, it’s up to Pearlie to save the day. Illustrations are full colour and share the ‘joie de vivre’ of Paris in the springtime.
Pearlie in Paris is the 14th adventure with Pearlie, the fairy who normally resides in an inner Sydney park. She’s a hard-working fairy, so it’s good she also gets to take holidays. Even if, on those holidays she also gets to solve problems and avert disasters. Pearlie is a very good-hearted fairy, never taking offence and always finding ways to help out. But she does get to tour around Paris in the end, even if it’s not with her new friend, Fifi, who is presumably too busy filling orders after her spectacular fashion show! Fans of Pearlie will enjoy this instalments and new readers of this series will want to search out other Pearlie adventures. Recommended for newly independent readers and for younger children as a read-to.
Pearlie in Paris, Wendy Harmer & Gypsy Taylor
Random House 2011
ISBN: 9781741663808
review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
This book can be purchased online from Fishpond.