Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams (The Fairy Chronicles)

I wasn't sure what to make of these books in the Fairy Chronicles series by J.H. Sweet. I know that some girls love princesses and fairies and unicorns, but I don't think that my eight-year-old daughter and I are in that camp. We were both hooked in the first chapter, because this is not just a story about a feminine mythical creature. It's an adventure story. It's also a story of self-discovery. Every two to three pages are illustrated with really beautiful pen and ink drawings by Tara Larsen Chang, which makes the book even more captivating. The story could be enjoyed by girls age six or seven on up to ten, at least. The print is big (like an early reader), but the vocabulary is fairly complex (My third grade daughter could easily understand, but there were a few unfamiliar words). It makes for a nice combination that is not too intimidating to read, and yet will challenge a girl while she's reading it (sort of like when Kindergarteners have so much fun that the don't realize that they are learning). This also makes it a great read-aloud, because you can stop and talk about the new words. Each book is about 100 pages, which I have found is a nice length for a book that we are going to read together before bed, because we are able to finish the book within a week and not get too weary of it. It's also just the right length for a slower or more reluctant independent reader to be able to tackle on her own. Jennifer (Dragonfly) and her friends join the Sandman to visit the spider who spins the Web of Dreams. The web has been destroyed and so people all over the world are having too many nightmares. Along with action, this book has a little bit of mystery as well.

J.H. Sweet brings back the Fairy Team in another magical story telling of The Fairy Chronicles. In book two of the series, Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams, the reader revisits this magical world of fairies, gremlins, brownies, mystical spiders and even a cameo from the Sandman! But there is much more than magic happening in Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams. One of the best points to make about The Fairy Chronicles is the way J.H. Sweet weaves lessons of environmental responsibility into the stories, without it seeming out of place. Jennifer Sommerset, also known as Dragonfly in her fairy form, is avid on the notion of recycling and reusing. From making sure her family has the proper recycling bins, to encouraging her neighbors to do their part, Jennifer goes above and beyond the environmentally conscious duties of all fairies. Jennifer is also known for her pamphlets, created wholly on her part, for ideas on how to reuse things like coffee cans and butter tubs. These are everyday examples of how easy it is to make the world a better place to live in, and young impressionable readers will be educated and inspired by these environmentally friendly messages. Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams also delivers the important message of team work, as the Fairy Team and other characters introduced in the first book of the series work together to benefit all of mankind. Sometimes team work also means working with someone you don't know very well or have a misconception about, and Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams demonstrates to young readers how you really can't judge a book by its cover. The Dream Spider is a very large, furry creature that has a deep booming voice and is very intimidating by appearance. However, in the end, we see how even someone who seems to be dark or scary can actually do something helpful or produce something as mystically beautiful as the Web of Dreams. J.H. Sweet has perfectly captured the right balance of magic and mystery with real life lessons of team work, environmental responsibility and open-mindedness. These are perfect lessons for the targeted audience, and Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams makes a great family reading session! The magical fairy world of The Fairy Chronicles takes everyone, from the young and the young at heart, into a place that is exciting to visit, over and over again.

This book has wonderful written style. The events that take place move along fairly quickly to hold the reader's interest. The book's content is also interesting with good depth of characters and an interesting mission. The small details in the book such as the trolls' love of stacking and sorting things, and the reason rabbits are not afraid of boots, add a lot of charm to this fairy tale. Overall this is a well written book and very memorable. I recommend it both for children and adults.

When the Web of Dreams is destroyed, and the fairies set out on a journey to find the Dream Spider (the creature needed to rebuild the web), they encounter a few surprises along the way including trolls and other fairies. The writer of this tale certainly knows girls today. The characters are as diverse, both in culture and personality, as my daughter's friends. Dragonfly is a particularly strong character, very committed to her ideals. We need more stories about young girls of color in leadership roles, making a difference in the world. I enjoyed the caffeine and insomnia bits worked into this story. The fairies also learn a valuable lesson from the Sandman - that appearances can sometimes be deceiving. I enjoyed this story even more than the first book in the series.

My sister and I like this. We like fairies and books about fairies. Dragonfly leads this fairy mission to find the Dream Spider. She handles herself well when she meets the trolls and the dream spider. Dragonfly gets to see the Web of Dreams in the end. It is in a secret place. Riding on birds sounds like fun. The Dream Spider gives Dragonfly a bracelet in the end to help her sleep. I will read this book again with my sister.