THE TUSK FAIRY

Lizzie's knitted Elephant is her favorite toy, but the years have left him so much the worse for wear that she's had to dress him in the other toys' clothes just to hold him together. Then one day while she's pulling him in her cart a thread catches and he becomes entirely unraveled; nothing is left but his tusks. Fortunately, Grandma has an idea: Lizzie could try putting the tusks under her pillow. Sure enough, the Tusk Fairy (i.e., Grandma, who's been knitting all night) comes through. New Elephant makes everyone happy—including the other toys, who get their clothes back. Smee fashions a wonderfully satisfying drama from the lovingly detailed child-toy relationship, the aging earned honorably in happy play, and the joyful rebirth. The affectionate narrative is nicely complemented by warmly humorous illustrations in which the toys are as expressive of subtle emotions as the little girl is. (Picture book. 4-8)