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Written and Illustrated by Teresa Ascone
44 pages, $12.95 View Purchasing Information
Published by Alaskan Portfolio Press
The Berry Fairies of Alaska is delightful fairy tale with full color illustrations featuring the fairies who care for the wild berries of Alaska: there are two categories: the Glayins care for medicinal or poisonous berries, and the Deeyin watch over the delicious sweet ones. Berry fairies are always of the female gender, and are 6 to 8 inches tall--just the size to perch on a human hand, although one never would. They are industrious, clever and thrifty, and they love shoes and beautiful clothes.
After colorful illustrations introduce the fairies, readers are swept into Blueberry fairy Sehra's love story: she meets John, a popular ForestFolke bachelor from the wealthy and influential Wilderbranche clan, who wins her heart.
Don't miss A Day in the Life of an Alaska Berry Fairy, the page that tells us about the day-to-day activities of these industrious beings. A few hints: They love their work, and they enjoy eating delicious foods...including chocolate!
The book ends with a page of Alaska facts and descriptions. Which state has more coastline than the rest of the United States combined? How many lakes does Alaska have? What is an Alaskan Tuxedo? How are antlers different from horns? What is a Quonset Hut, and who qualifies as a sourdough? Answers to all these questions, and more, are included in this delightful book.
Fly away with the berry fairies to their land of fantasy and fun. You won't regret the adventure!
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Excerpt:
An Unexpected Peril
One sunny morning, Sehra and her dragonfly companion Lissabelle set out with a basket to collect the rakneet. “Mother, we’re leaving now and should be gone all day,” said Sehra.
Her mother, who was preparing packets of berries for the roddeels, the ravens, glanced up from her work. “Remember to be watchful for the krillklaws, Sehra,” she cautioned, “and try not to stray very far from each other.” Krillklaws, known to the shiltayen as magpies, considered the berry fairies delicious treats and ate them whenever they could catch them.
“And don’t touch down on the tidal mud flats, you might get stuck!” Brittallo shouted as the two took off.
“Don’t worry, mother! We know what to do, and we’ll be safe,” Sehra replied. “She frets too much. We’ve heard all that a thousand times,” she whispered to Lissabelle as they ascended into the south wind currents.
They arrived at the cliffs a half hour later. Lissabelle, whose job was to locate webs, found several promising bunches. The orb weaver spider usually takes her web down each morning, so any they found could be collected without concern. Sehra began to gather the material, which was sticky to the touch before processing. Later, it would be soaked in blueberry essence, then dried, dyed and spun into the soft blue yarn so treasured by the blueberry fairies.
The two gradually strayed far apart as Lissabelle searched the rock crevices and Sehra collected the webs in her basket. As she worked high on the cliff, perched upside down on the edge of a boulder, a shadow passed over her and Sehra heard the sound of wings — bird wings.
The blueberry fairy felt a sudden chill of fear. A moment later, as the attack came from below in a flurry of black and white feathers, she had only a moment to cry out to Lissabelle, “Hide!” Krillklaws, two of them, came at her with beaks and talons. As a claw viciously ripped her jacket, Sehra knew she was in a fight for her life.
Berry fairy defense training and survival instinct took over as she protected herself, aiming powerful kicks and wing strikes at the birds, which were beaten back momentarily. Then they continued their attack, one of them snapping at her leg while the other struck a glancing blow to her head. Everything went dim as Sehra plummeted wings over heels towards the treacherous tidal flats below.
Reviews:
"Venture ye now into the mysterious and magical realm of Faerie -- the World of the Berry Fairies of Alaska..." So begins the story of the Berry Fairies, a story that will be enjoyed by child and adult alike. With her classic whimsical style Alaskan artist Teresa Ascone illustrates the story she has written that tells of the berry fairy clans of Alaska; their habitat, language, relationships and fashions, as well as their industry and government. In beautiful detail we see the development of the baby fairies as they grow, and learn about the responsibility being a fairy brings with it. There is, in fact, a price for misuse or overuse of fairy magic, and the berry fairies are guided by the Sakre Ninyin, the Nine Sacred Principles that promote a useful and happy existence. Included is a map of the Isle of Aeradeet where the fairies go when they reach the age of retirement, and it is this map that I find most interesting and entertaining. It includes dormitories for visitors, a Library and Day Spa and a Dance Arena, and so I think I might have to find a way to get there myself, if only as I daydream in my hammock under the trees. With the charming images from the book in my mind I know it will be easy to find my way there."
Roberta Degenhardt, Alaska Women Speak Magazine Volume XVI, Issue 2
"As author/illustrator Teresa Ascone notes in her new book, the stories of the Alaska berry fairies were inspired by a number of dreams in which she met (for the first time) her great grandmother, Alice Piper. Through these dreams, Alice related how she would relax alone on her porch, sipping tea and watching birds and insects. When she found an injured chickadee one day, she cared for it, nursing it back to health and then returning it to its forest home. Through this simple act of kindness, Alice was befriended by a fairy called Nettie, who confided secrets and stories of her realm. Writes Ascone, "I believe it was an act of faith to begin a friendship that would seal a pact between races: berry fairy and human. Alice accepted the wonder, mystery and magic of Nettie's tales, never doubting her--and I was the grateful dreamer who received the stories from her, to record as faithfully as I could.
In a fanciful format that marries lush illustration with enchanting text, Ascone details the lives of the Alaska Berry Fairies--from their appearance, fashions and dwellings to their relationships with animals and humans, and everyday activities. Featured is "Sehra Twinkle's Love Story", a tale of marriage, celebration and birth. There are also a glossary of fairy words and lists of facts about Alaska and Alaskan berries. This unique blend of fact and fiction, dreams and magic, is a beautifully illustrated and wonderfully engaging book for fairy lovers of all ages."
Dawn Brunke, Alaska Wellness Magazine, November/December 2008
