June brings with it many cool celebrations, and as I mentioned in my Sunday Scribblings post, June 24th is International Fairy Day! But truly, any day is a good day for a little fairy mischief and magic, don’t you think? To help you celebrate fairies today, tomorrow, or whenever you need some sparkle, I’ve gathered ten (and then some) fairy-themed books for readers of all ages — with each one paired with a fun activity. Whether you’re curled up with a good book or out building a fairy house, these ideas will help you bring the magic of fairies into your everyday life.

Let’s flutter right in…

“Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels. But their magic sparkles in nature.” — Lynn Holland

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Going rogue, or well, fairy, for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday

11+ Fairy-Themed Books and Activity Pairings

📘 Fairy Tales with a Twist

Read: Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi is a vibrantly brilliant quest through magical lands, perfect for fans of Alice or classic fairy tales with a wild new voice. (Children’s Fantasy, 9 – 12 years, and up)
Optional Swap: Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff. There is something about Rumpelstiltskin that has always fascinated me; wicked? of course, but what is his backstory really? And this is a delightful, funny take on it. (Children’s Fantasy, 8 – 10 years, and up)
Try This: Rewrite your own “twisted” fairy tale. Flip something major (or not) — what if the villain was the misunderstood hero? Or set it in space! Or maybe invent your own “Furthermore-style” land with rules, colors, and customs — what would your magic system look like?

Aside: both books are part of a series, so more fairiness all around!

📕 Picture Book Sparkle

Read: Fairy Science by Ashley Spires. I loved The Most Magnificent Thing by Spires and saw knew that Fairy Science would be pure magic as well!
Optional Swap: The Fairiest Fairy by Anne Booth. Betty’s the worst fairy in school—but maybe being kind matters more than getting the wand-twirling right
Try This: Build a fairy-friendly invention using household or recycled items — a glitter-powered trap, a mini-bridge, or a sparkly lab! (Note: glitter-powered traps are effective for porch-pirates too! fairies and pirates, all in one post for you!)

📗 Middle Grade Mischief

Read: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Check out what happens when siblings discover their grandparents run a secret preserve for magical creatures — and not all of them play nice. Not sure how I never discovered this treasure of a book before, but now I am glad I did. Plus, it is a series! (Children’s Fantasy, 9 – 12 years, and up)
Optional Swap: The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by DiTerlizzi and Black. I read this a while back when one of my kids was reading it. Loved this read about three kids who find a mysterious book and uncover a hidden world of goblins, brownies, and strange fairy rules. (Children’s Fantasy, 8 years and up)
Try This: Create your own field guide! Draw or describe magical creatures, fairies included. Give them names, habitats, powers, and quirks.

🎩 Quirky Quests & Whimsical Wonders

Read: Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston. A book that delighted me start to finish, and I wrote a couple of posts about it, including this one with 10 reasons why I loved it. (Children’s Fantasy, 8 years and up)
Optional Swap: Zeb and the Great Ruckus by Joshua Donellan. Another one that I fell in love with the moment I started reading it. My review of the book is here. (Children’s Fantasy, 7 – 11 years, and up)
Try This: Invent your own nonsense creature or magical machine!
Write silly rhymes or a short adventure story starring your creation.

💖 Big-Hearted Magic & Brave Believers

Read: The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
Optional Swap: A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
Try This: Write a kindness chain reaction story — one small good deed that causes a ripple of magical change. OR, create a “Fairy Code of Kindness” poster. What rules would fairies live by to help humans?

🌍 Fairy Lore from Around the World

Read: Tatterhood and Other Feisty Folk Tales by Margrete Lamond  and Peter Sheehan. A forgotten celebration of feminism is folktales, this one is, as the description says, A collection of Norwegian folk tales, notable for their gutsy heroines, tongue-in-cheek humour and folksy idiom.
Optional Swap: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier. I mention this book in a previous post here.
Try This: Explore a fairy tale or folktale from your own heritage (or pick a new country!). Retell it as a comic strip or puppet play.

🎨 DIY Fairy World

Read: Fairy Houses: How to Create Whimsical Homes for Fairy Folk by Sally J. Smith (Nature Crafts). I reviewed this here.
Optional Swap: Forest Fairy Crafts by Lenka Vodicka-Paredes and Asia Curie (Children’s Crafts, 6 – 11 years, and up)
Try This: Make a fairy house! Use sticks, bark, flowers, or found objects to create a home for magical visitors in your garden or bedroom.

🧚 Bedtime Fairy Whispers

Read: The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz. This book for young readers is about Flory. After losing her wings, Flory must learn to survive in the daylight — a gentle, glowing tale of bravery and resourcefulness
Optional Swap: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman with illustrations by Michael Emberley. I love these ‘very short’ series.
Try This: Make a wish jar! Decorate a small jar, then add tiny paper wishes or fairy-sized notes inside. Keep it by your bed to whisper dreams.

🎭 Fairy Tales on Page & Stage

Read: The Twelve Dancing Princesses (retelling of your choice – here is one). Classic fairy tale meets mystery: where do the princesses vanish to each night, and why are their shoes always worn through?
Optional Swap: The Light Princess by George MacDonald is a whimsical Victorian fairy tale about a princess who floats because she lacks gravity — both physical and emotional. A tale of balance, love, and a little theatrical flair.
Try This: Act out your own fairy tale with paper dolls or shadow puppets. You can also choreograph a dance inspired by fairy magic.

🧚‍♂️ A Little-Real-Life Fairy Magic

Read: Fairy Spell: How Two Girls Convinced the World That Fairies Are Real by Marc Tyler Nobleman, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
Optional Swap: The Natural History of Fairies by Emily Hawkins, illustrated by Jessica Roux
Try This: Stage your own “fairy photo shoot” like the Cottingley girls! Cut out fairy shapes or use toys and take photos of them “hidden” in nature.

🧚‍♀️ Fairy Poetry Picks

Of course, I had to include something for poetry (though a couple of the earlier ones are in verse, or do have poems sprinkled through the reads)

Read: A Fairy Went A-Marketing by Rose Fyleman is a charming, vintage-style poem about a fairy’s whimsical errands — simple and sweet for readers of all ages.
Optional Swap: Fairy Poems by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a beautifully illustrated collection featuring classic and traditional fairy-themed verse from well-loved poets.
Try This: Write your own “pocket-sized poem” inspired by fairies — it could be a haiku, limerick, or rhymed couplet.

Bonus Fairy Books

Just because!

• Flower Fairies Magical Doors and How to See Faeries – These are gorgeous! And I think I might just gift both of these to myself, for I love books like this!!
• The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker is beautifully illustrated and whimsical and magical in every which way!

✨ A Sprinkle of Fairy Fun: Facts, Folklore & Places to Explore

🌍 Fairy Facts from Around the World

• In Ireland, fairies are often linked to ancient burial mounds known as sidhe.
• Filipino mythology includes diwata, forest spirits who can bless or curse.
• In Scotland, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts divide fairies into helpful and harmful.
• Shakespeare gave us the mischievous Puck and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
• The word “fairy” comes from the Latin fata (fate) and was once spelled faerie in English (source)

📍 Whimsical Fairy Places to Visit (or Virtually Explore)

• Ann Arbor’s Fairy Doors – I recall reading about this a few years ago and was fascinated. I know that the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco has a few fairy doors as well!
• Children’s Fairyland (Oakland, CA) – This park in Oakland has been on my list for too long, from when my kids were toddlers. But now they are way too old for it (maybe?)
• 🧚‍♀️ The Fairy Glen (Isle of Skye, Scotland) – A magical landscape of spirals, rocks, and legend.
• 🌿 The Enchanted Forest (Oregon, USA) – A storybook-themed park filled with fairy-tale magic.
• 🧙‍♀️ Fairy Tale Town (Sacramento, CA) – A charming park for younger fairy-lovers.
• 📱 The Fairy Investigation Society – Yes, it’s real! They collect modern-day fairy sightings. Explore online.
• 💫 The Cottingley Fairies – Visit the site of the 1917 photo hoax that fooled even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!

🎨 Fairy Crafts & Printables

• Make your own fairy wings
• Design a fairy passport
• Fairy dust bottles (filled with safe glitter + a wish!)
• Make your own “Fairy-Themed Book” — part scrapbook, part journal, part nonsense. Fill it with:
  • Strange creature ideas
  • Weird dreams
  • Favorite made-up fairy-ish words
  • Doodles of talking rocks or polite monsters
  • Your own invented magical holidays (like Fairy Tuesday or Ruckus Rain Day)

💌 And Now, A Little Pixie Dust to Take With You

So, dear reader — whether you’re crafting fairy houses, diving into folklore, or just pausing to watch the glimmer of sunlight through the trees, there’s always room for a little wonder.

✨ Which book from the list are you excited to read next — or do you have favorite fairy-themed books of your own to share? Drop it in the comments below! Let’s keep the magic going.

Bottom line? Fairies = fun. And magic doesn’t need a reason.