A Fairy-Tale

In a dreary town, between the two world wars, young Bessie is lonely and bored. She meets the elderly Mrs Leaf who lives next door and they talk about whether fairies really exist. Mrs Leaf says that maybe she is a fairy who has slipped through from her own world and can't get back.

Mrs Leaf and Bessie become good, life-long friends. Mrs Leaf is there as Bessie grows up, is married, widowed and becomes an elderly lady herself. Strangely, as Bessie gets older, Mrs Leaf gets younger. Maybe old friends don't notice the changes in each other, or maybe Mrs Leaf is a fairy after all.

Tony Ross's evocative illustrations are the perfect fit for this unusual and thought-provoking tale.