Lily, the Little Elf Princess

PreS-Gr 1—Lily, a small elf princess, sings beautifully; makes garlands to adorn her elf dog, Trotty (and even one for Minnie, the grumpy meadow snipe); and helps a distressed dormouse. But Lily's plans to make honey cake for the Elf Party are contingent on her ability to make the closed water lilies, which contain the necessary ingredient, open. At the same time, by opening the lilies, the elf princess can also help Freya the water nymph attend the party (nymphs can only leave their pool when the water lilies open their petals). Though other magical creatures try to aid Lily, it is Lily who ultimately has the power to open the water lilies, free Freya, and make the honey cake. Her lovely singing not only breaks the magic spell keeping the lilies closed but lessens Minnie's grouchiness. Softly colored and highly detailed illustrations of Lily's intricate, delicate, highly idealized magical world accompany the quietly satisfying story. Children will be reassured that the most obvious answer to a problem can be found from within, even in Lily's magical world.—Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library