Heather the Violet Fairy

Daisy Meadows' Heather the Violet Fairy is the big finish to the Rainbow Fairies, a Rainbow Magic adventure for 5 year olds with one last fairy to find before the ferry home.

What happens

It's the very last day of Rachel and Kirsty's holiday on Rainspell Island. The ferry leaves at four o'clock. And there's still a fairy missing.

Then a violet ribbon turns up tied to the tail of Rachel's kite. It says "follow me" in tiny silver writing. Who could resist that?

The ribbon leads them through a hedge to a summer fair. There's ice cream, a clown show and a merry-go-round with horses painted in every colour of the rainbow.

The ride is a lovely bit. The fair melts away and suddenly the wooden horses are galloping along a beach (Kirsty can taste the salt spray!).

Heather is stuck inside a painting in the middle of the merry-go-round. Getting her out needs a tiny golden paintbrush from the girls' bag of magic gifts, and she giggles that it tickles.

Then things get bigger. Jack Frost turns up in person, with icicles hanging off his clothes and a laugh like hailstones on a window. There's a tense moment when a shimmering wall of magic raindrops turns to ice and shatters.

It's over quickly, though. And the fairies turn out to be kind as well as brave. There's a sweet chat about why the world needs winter, with snow for sledding and squirrels storing nuts in autumn. It's a nice one to talk about afterwards.

This is the American edition, so expect "Mom" and "vacation". Heather's own name is the same in the UK books, but two of her sisters go by their American names here.

Because it ties up the whole hunt, it's best saved until last. If you're starting from scratch, begin with Ruby the Red Fairy and read the seven in order.

What to read next

If they're sad to say goodbye to Rainspell, Caitlin the Ice Bear Fairy is another last-day adventure for the same two friends. This time it's the final day of camp and one little ice bear cub is still lost.