Dorothy P. Lathrop (1891–1980)

Published in 1931, and chosen as one of six Newbery Honor Books in 1932 - other titles to be so honored that year include Calico Bush, Boy of the South Seas, Out of the Flame, Jane's Island, and The Truce of the Wolf and Other Tales of Old Italy - this short story in the form of a picture-book is rather difficult to come by. The copy I read was in the Special Collections room of my local library, and had to be read on the premises. It is the story of a group of fairies who, finding their meadow overrun by a human circus, are inspired, when the mortals finally leave, to create one of their own. Summoning all the woodland creatures, the fairies throw a circus after their own fashion, with field mice cavorting about as horses, red efts (AKA eastern newts) performing all the tricks of seals, chipmunks (unsuccessfully) masquerading as striped tigers, squirrels (successfully) acting as lions, turtles lumbering about as elephants, and fireflies darting about, providing lighting. The fairies themselves act as clowns, trapeze artists and tight-rope walkers - the latter two groups performing their feats on spider-spun ropes and nets - with the whole extravaganza concluding with the Fairy Queen's procession, and a diving competition. As dawn comes, however, the fairies must depart, and the idyl ends...

The Fairy Circus is simply a beautiful book, from a visual perspective. The orange cloth cover boasts some gorgeous artwork, done in black (like the title), and gold gilt. The book itself is oblong, and the interior illustrations alternate between black and white panels, and color plates, on glossy paper. The black and white illustrations, which look like etchings (or some kind of printing, perhaps? - I wish I knew more about book illustration!), are lovely, with a delicate charm that is very appealing. The color plates are even more delightful, capturing the ethereal beauty of their fairy subjects, and the more earthy charm of their animal playmates. All that said, while Lathrop's artwork is wonderful, her story leaves quite a bit to be desired. In point of fact, there really isn't much story at all, just a series of descriptions of different scenes, strung together. There is no overarching theme, no plot whatsoever, and I suspect that today's young readers would soon grow bored with it. I know I did, despite my appreciation for the artwork! Some of the language is creative, as when Lathrop uses alliteration, in describing a group of turtles as a "company of cumbrous comic collosuses congregated in a complex colomnar climax," but it is also rather convoluted.

All in all, this is a book I would recommend primarily to Newbery completists like myself, or to those who are particularly interested in fairy artwork. For everyone else, it's a bit of a miss.… (meer)