Night Fairy
BY: Amy Laura Schlitz
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2010
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure Story
Summary:
The Night Fairy is the story of a fairy whose wing was torn and is unable to live
her life like other fairies. Flory decides to become a day fairy. She discovers the
challenges of survival. Flory’s first friend, Skuggle, a squirrel is a hungry and
somewhat lazy animal. Flory finds not every creature of the outdoors lovers her
as much as Skuggle. Flory adores the hummingbird and will go out of her way to
help her escape the evils of a spider web.
BOOKTALK:
Flory is a night fairy, born at night and loves the night time. But one night, when
she is less than 3 months old, something bad happens. Something horrible
happens. It changes Flory’s life. A brown bat came down and tore off Flory’s
wings. But Flory does not give up. She is a smart night fairy. What do you think
Flory did? Read this book to find out how Flory coped with the loss of her
precious wings.
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Amy Laura Schlitz has won the Newbery Medal for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
She works as a school librarian at Park school in Baltimore Maryland.
Other books written by the author:
Similar Books or Similar Themes: So many fairy books – Jewel fairies, Tinkerbell
and Pixie Hollow, and Small People With Wings.
CHALLENGING WORDS
Dusky 1
Peril 3
Keen 6
Perching 8
Cluster 11
Skimpy 26
Hovered 36
Haphazard 54
Shinnied 54
Grizzled hum 93
Glibly 9
Revised 03/07/08
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Describe the life cycle of a fairy. (chapter 1)
2. Why did Flory, the night fairy, decide to be a day fairy? What are her challenges?
3. Why do you think Flory is willing to help Skamp get food?
4. What doe Flory seem to admire about the hummingbird? Why do you think this?
5. Discuss the growing relationship that develops between Flory and Skuggle. How can
you compare this to a friendship you developed?
6. Why do you think it might be bad luck to kill a fairy?
7. Flory developed several good friends. Which friendships do you think will continue to
grow? Why do you think this?
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Language Arts: List activities and Common Core Standards Grades 4-6
1. Which character do you most/least resemble? Compare and contrast your
answer.
4.RL.7. Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or
oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific
descriptions and directions in the text.
5.RI.5. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a
story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters
interact).
6.W.9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis,
reflection, and research.
2. Write a diary entry of an event that occurred – chose whose perspective is it in?
4.RL.3. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama,
drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or
actions).
4.W.3 and 5.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or
events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
4.L.2 and 5.L.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English
capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Revised 03/07/08
6.RL.3 Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of
episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves
toward a resolution.
6 W 3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using
effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event
sequences.
3. Be a news reporter and write or videotape one of Flory’s adventures.
4.L.3 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking,
reading, or listening.
4.SL.5 Identiy the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support
particular points.
4.SL.2. Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in
diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
5.SL.2. Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse
media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
4.SL.4. Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an
organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to
support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
5.SL.4. Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas
logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support
main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
6.W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development,
organization,and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
6.SL.4 Speaking and Listening Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas
logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main
ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume,
and clear pronunciation.
Mathematics: List activities and Common Core Standards Grades 4-6
1. In the beginning of the book Flory is described as tall as an acorn. How tall is
that? Compare acorns to the size of the Oak tree they produce. Compare other
seeds to the mature plant.
Revised 03/07/08
4.MD.1 Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units
including km, m, cm; kg, g; lb, oz.; l, ml; hr, min, sec. Within a single system of
measurement, express measurements in a larger unitin terms of a smaller unit.
Record measurement equivalents in a two-column table.
6.SP.1 Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the
data related to the question and accounts for it in the answers.
Lifeskills:
Caring, Cooperation, Courage, Friendship, Problem Solving
Revised 03/07/08