I adore Laura Amy Schlitz. Each of her four published books--a biography, a retelling, a melodrama, and a Newbery-winning collection of medieval monologues--is exceptional. They also may as well have been written expressly to appeal to my particular set of tastes. I've been wondering about her next book, and was delighted to discover that The Night Fairy, illustrated by Angela Barrett, will be published by Candlewick in February 2010. Fairies! Schlitz obviously knows what I like.

The cover image and text below are from Walker Books Australia, Candlewick's sister company:

"What would happen to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fairy no taller than an acorn and still becoming accustomed to her wings - wings as beautiful as those of a luna moth - is about to find out. What she discovers is that the world is very big and very, very dangerous. But Flory is fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If that means telling others what to do like Skuggle, a squirrel ruled by his stomach so be it. Not every creature, however, is as willing to bend to Flory’s demands. Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz and world-renowned illustrator and miniaturist Angela Barrett venture into the realm of the illustrated classic a classic entirely and exquisitely of their making, and a magnificent adventure."

Hmmm. Do you believe in fairies?