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“The original seed of this tale was told to me by Eibhis De Barra on the magical Isle of Cape Clear, off the coast of Southern Ireland.” In the retelling of this tale, Tanya Robyn Batt begins with a twist on a traditional beginning: “Once upon a time, and it wasn’t my time and it wasn’t your time…”
A young woodcutter whose life is made difficult by poverty, lack of an heir, and a blind mother rescues one of the wee folk from the clutches of a hawk. The faerie, holding true to tradition, places a wish into the man’s calloused hand: “It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It seemed to dart and dance and sent a warm shiver through his body.” The possibilities set before him are almost immediately at conflict with the man’s generous nature.
The problem with wishes is in using them wisely. The young man asks each member of his family what they want most and finds his heart torn apart as he struggles to create a wish that will benefit the whole rather than one part. The woodcutter’s unexpected solution will delight young readers or adults reading to small children. The author presents a wonderful lesson wrapped in a lovely story.
Nicoletta Ceccoli is the artist behind the lovely illustrations in this book. Rich colors and clean lines make each page a delight to the eye and inspired me to check out the web for other examples of her work. Fortunately, she has a website (www.nicolettaceccoli.com) well worth a look; I would encourage both adults and children to treat themselves to other examples of her work.
This wonderful book contains the classic elements of a teaching tale beginning with a kindness shown, gratitude given in the form of a wish, and the thoughtful working out of a solution that works for the benefit of an entire family.
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The Faerie's Gift