The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies

The book is excellent as to the paper, ink, print quality, and appearance. Mine disappeared. This replaced it. I am glad to have it.

The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker is nothing short of a botanical time machine. Opening its pages feels like stepping back into the sun-dappled gardens of my youth, where fairies flitted just out of sight and every flower held a secret. Barker’s delicate illustrations paired with her charming, lyrical poems capture the whimsy and wonder that enchanted me as a child—and, I’m delighted to report, still do. Each fairy is brought to life with such grace and personality, it’s impossible not to smile. This beautifully bound edition is more than just a book; it’s a treasured keepsake, a gentle hug from the past. Whether you grew up with these fairies or are just discovering them now, this collection is pure magic—a reminder that even in our grown-up lives, a little fairy dust goes a long way. Highly recommended for anyone who believes (or wants to believe) in the enchantment of childhood, nature’s quiet beauty, and the enduring power of imagination. Confessions of a Retired Flower Fairy: I Was The Primrose of 1923 Darlings, let me tell you—I was once the face of spring. Yes, that Primrose Fairy. Cicely captured me in my prime: petals perfectly perky, wings crisply starched, and that mischievous twinkle in my eye that made bees blush and butterflies swoon. Now, in my twilight years (I do a bit of yoga under the toadstools and sip chamomile out of acorn caps), I find endless joy in leafing through The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies. It’s like flipping through a vintage fairy Vogue. The illustrations? Divine. The poems? As delicate as spider silk spun on a moonbeam. It brings back those glorious days when I twirled on tulip catwalks and posed atop forget-me-nots, my gown stitched from the morning mist. This book isn’t just a collection—it’s a legacy. A love letter to nature, innocence, and the undeniable glamour of floral couture. For any human (or sprite) who once whispered to daffodils and believed daisies were magical, this tome will stir something deep and glimmering within you. A must-have for every bookshelf, picnic basket, and fairy glen.

Love this book!!!

Love this book so much. Beautifully printed and I love that its the entire collection. I got it for my daughter's first birthday for when she is older. She has a flower name so I thought it'd be fitting.

Beautiful

Bought this book for my mother who has dementia and it was a big hit! It's full of gorgeous pictures with lots of color and lots of information on the fairies...great for kids and adults alike and no creepy fairies like some of the books out there 🤣

Cicely Mary Barker's eight little flower fairies books were published between 1923 and 1985 making her a household name, especially in Great Britain. Published at the height of the "fairy mania" that swept England during the early decades of the 20th Century, they captured in sweetly beautiful images and verse the wonder that many people felt about these elusive mythical creatures. Cicely Mary Barker (1895-1973) was predominately a self taught artist who during her lifetime suffered from ill health and physical fragility, thus she escaped into the world of the imagination and make believe. Her unselfconscious, delicate and jewel like watercolors were strongly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, fellow women illustrator Kate Greenaway (1846-1901) and her love of England's many stately gardens. Her inspiration for the flower fairies also came from the lush English countryside; and observing young children at her local village kindergarten, where her sister worked as a teacher. Her fairies are delicately and truthfully observed depictions of these young children in naturalistic poses and postures, standing on or clinging to botanically correct and delicately rendered flowers. Being no bigger than 20cm tall they live and sleep in their birth flower taking care of their respective tree or plant, and as their tree or plant grows so they grow in wisdom and power too. Fairies were most popular in the high Victorian and the Edwardian ages but they continued to hold sway over the imaginations of countless children (primarily girls) up into the early modern era... and beyond. This wondrously enchanting volume is a comprehensive collection of all eight flower fairies books including: flower fairies of the spring, summer, autumn and winter and the flower fairies of the alphabet, trees, garden and wayside. As some of the most timeless depictions of the world of faery Cicely Mary Barker captured the innocence and naivety of childhood in exquisitely rendered illustrations and delightfully simple verse. While some of us may now see these fairies as "safe" and "tame" depictions of the primal and elemental forces of nature, in my mind they capture the spirit of a more genteel bygone era when peoples cultural mores and values were just plain different to ours, if not in some ways better. As such her little fairies lack the cynicism, artificiality and worldliness of the modern age and will continue to hold sway over the minds of generations of fairy lovers to come, and will bring out the child within in anyone willing to let their imaginations run free.

This is a compilation of all flower fairy poems and illustrations by Cecily Barker I had no idea she wrote poems for each of the flower fairy she drew This represents 8 books in ONE volume The book is 8x11. There is one poem per page. The illustrations vary in size, some are a full page, some are half or quarter page. 90% illustrations in color, but some are black and white sketches In addition to flower fairies, there are tree and bush fairies Small explanatory notes are present with some poems It's a beautiful reprint, lavishly illustrated, and all of her works in one volume

Las ilustraciones son sorprendentes pero el tamaño del libro me parece demasiado pequeño.

Gorgeous

This was bought for a four year old girl's birthday gift. Illustrated and written in the first part of the last century, its appeal is timeless and enduring. The flower fairies appear most realistic; perhaps because C M Barker used to sketch the children at her sister's school, bringing the faces of innocent childhood to her world of delightful fantasy. The name of Frederick Warne reminded me of books from my own childhood, Beatrix Potter, Edward Lear and Kate Greenaway. Such treasured and nostalgic volumes that enter one's heart and never really leave. I always feel a comforting sense of recognition when I see them on shelves and in children's rooms. All eight works are brought together. We have the collection as smaller individual copies which also have their charm, sometimes bigger books seem overwhelming and lose the magic, however in this case, all is as it should be. To turn the pages is to enter another world, one where beauty and joy leap out with a laugh, banishing everyday cares and recreating that bright pleasure experienced when really looking properly at the flowers and countryside. In many ways educational in a gentle, informative way. What a wonderful way to learn about the Lady's Smock, Colt's Foot and Celandine, the Primrose and the Dandelion, the Dog Violet and the Daffodil. The characters of all the humble flowers and trees we can see along the lanes, in the fields and gardens are charmingly captured, with little asides that immortalise country sayings and wisdom. All in poetry form, with the paintings as fresh as they day were were completed, a clear index provided for favourites to be quickly found, this is a perfect choice for all ages to share and enjoy.

This book was acquired as a gift for my father and the little figurines we have cherished for over a decade. The book has the complete collection of poems of Cicely Mary Barker divided in sections with the drawings in great quality and detail. A gret book for a gift.

perfect for the little ones