Belief in fairies keeps them alive

Anyone who has read Peter Pan will know all about fairies. Fairies live all over the world and, of course, they are invisible to human beings.

A new fairy is born every time a human baby laughs for the first time. This first laugh flies out of the nearest window and flutters off over the horizon to become a new fairy. But every time a human child announces that fairies don't exist, a fairy somewhere dies.

Children must continue believing in fairies so that fairy populations all over the world are not destroyed. Gail Carson Levine's enchanting Fairy Dust and the Quest For The Egg works hard to keep belief in fairies alive.

The fairies of Neverland, the island home of hero Peter Pan and dastardly villain Captain Hook, are kept busy, working hard to keep their home bright and sparkling. Each fairy here has a particular talent that contributes to the efficient running of Neverland.

Tinker Bell, for example, is good at mending pots and pans, while Vidia's talent is fast-flying. When all the fairies' talents are working properly, Fairy Haven is a very well-organised place.

For a short time, the smooth running of Fairy Haven is interrupted as news spreads around that a new fairy has arrived to join the community. There is great excitement in the air. All the Neverland fairies are eager to welcome the newcomer, but their enthusiasm is soon dampened when they discover the truth about the new fairy.