In a Nutshell: A sweet little picture book about being yourself and doing your best to shine. Interesting characters, great rhymes, rainbow illustrations. Recommended!

Plot Preview:
Fred the fairy works in the Department of Dresses at a Wish Granting Plant in Far Far Away, but he’s never been given a wish to handle. When he finally gets his first wish, it is from a boy named Joshua, who has been invited to a princess party and wants a dress. Will Fred be able to conjure up the perfect outfit for Joshua and make sure that he is the best-dressed princess at the party?


This picture book might seem like a retelling of Cinderella, but in essence, it is much more. I love how sweetly it highlights Fred’s need to prove himself as well as Joshua’s need to be a great princess.

There’s no judgement at all in the book. A boy receives an invitation to a ‘princess’ party, and he wants to go to it as a princess, and no one has a problem with this. No one questions Fred’s choice to be a designer of princess gowns, nor does a single human wonder if Joshua is allowed to wear a dress. Every person/fairy just accepts everyone else without any criticism or apprehension. This is, of course, not a true depiction of the real world, but it is a wholesome story, depicting how a world without unwarranted negative opinions could be. Acceptance goes such a long way in ensuring positive mental health, right?

The story is written in rhythmic prose, which I am often not a fan of, but works wonderfully in this book. Even Joshua’s letter to the fairy world is written in perfect rhyme. Not a single verse in the entire book appears forced. The meter is also on beat, making this book a great read-aloud option.

The rainbow-hued illustrations are the icing on the cake. They suit the tone of the writing as well as the theme of the story. The extra-bright colours further add to the magical effect.

The only reason I am not rating this higher is that the plot is a bit too overreaching for a book this size. Though the title focusses on Fred, the book details both Fred and Joshua’s journey towards accomplishment and happiness, while also incorporating many extraneous details in the text. It might have worked better in case of a beginner-level chapter book, but in a picture book that is meant for littlies aged 2-5 years, it feels somewhat cluttered.

All in all, this is still a lovely story about embracing who you are and being the best version of yourself. I love how it breaks gender stereotypes without being overt about it.

Definitely recommended. The vocabulary is a bit on the advanced side for the age group, but it would still work well when read with an adult.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Fairy Called Fred”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A gorgeously illustrated book about acceptance, being yourself and letting your sparkle shine for all to see!

Fred is a fairy working in the dressmaking dept in the wish granting plant and he dreams of one day creating a ball gown as beautiful as Cinderellas. He gets his chance when Joshua wishes for a gown for his friends princess party.

There is no question that Fred will create a beautiful masterpiece for Joshua to wear, and the dress is spectacular. All his friends love it and celebrate his style.

I loved the message in this story, be your amazing, fabulous, colourful self no matter what, have courage and style and live life with sparkle! Just gorgeous 😍

He's done it again! Robert Tregoning has written the perfect ode to acceptance and made it accessible and joyful to boot.

Did you know that fairies work at a Wish Granting Plant? Fred works in the Department of Dresses, largely facilitating the wishes of princesses in need of magical ball gowns, festooned with tuile and sequins, and he dreams of helping a person in need. All of the fairies in the department want to win top prize for the best ballgown but Bella is the current undefeated carrier of that title and has won for the last fifty years (she did style Cinders after all).

Joshua, almost 9, is desperate to go to Claire's Princess Party but he doesn't have a dress to wear. Much like Cinderella, he wishes on a star/ sends Wish Mail, and then his wish is granted when he hears a knock at the window and Fred appears like his fairy godmother. Then with oodles and doodles of spangles and sparkles, Fred creates a "show-stopping frock of incredible style - and best of all, paired with a little boy's smile."

We love that there is never a question about Joshua wearing a dress, just acceptance as it should be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for sending this eBook for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

Aw, this is a modern fairy tale that is suitable for all ages of children. Its prose is rhyming, however the lines are slightly more complex than board book prose and the story is a perfect length for both read aloud/alongs and children reading it by themselves.
The illustrations offer great colour harmony and complement the story.
This is an LGBTQ-friendly, encouraging, empowering and cute story that promotes self-acceptance and acceptance of others.

A truly beautiful picture book where the illustrations bring the light and meaning to this story told in rhyme.
Fred is a fairy working at the wish factory ranting wishes for outfit but he never receives a wish to fulfill. He is desperate to be the best dress designer and when the winner from the past 50 years brings him his design brief, he is delighted.
Joshua, a boy on earth, has been invited to a princess party but does not have a dress to wear and wishes for one. Fred designs a beautiful dress which earns Joshua the best dressed and the design of the year for himself.
This is a delightful story, children will love the rhyme and the illustrations and I love how it breaks those gender stereotypes. A must have for schools and families.

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Children’s Books and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Fred the fairy works in the wish factory in the dress department, one day he gets a letter arrive from Joshua who hasn’t a dress for his friend Claire’s princess party. In flies Fred the fairy to help design the best princess dress ever invented.

I loved this so so much, it’s so adorable, little Joshua wanted to go to his friends princess party but didn’t know how he would get a dress, then in swoops Fred the fairy to create the sparkliest and most fancy princess dress for him. It was so sweet and I really loved it.

The illustrations were beautiful, I loved looking around at the fairy factory, seeing all the different fairies working, I loved in the party scene where the princess’s were all together and one child was under the table with a plate of cake, it was so funny. The illustrations were so beautiful and the dress looked magnificent on young Joshua.

I am adoring finding books like this that show to children to be themselves, to wear what they want and what makes them happy, that being a boy doesn’t stop you wearing the most sparkly princess dress ever. I really adore it, such a wonderfully created book.

What a fabulous book! Fred the fairy loves different designs, but he’s never had his own wish-mail. When the award winning designer and famed fashionista Bella gives Fred a chance to create his first ever wish, Fred does not disappoint little Joshua who is in need of a beautiful gown for a party.

Amazing illustrations complementing a beautiful book about trying new things out for the first time. Themes of courage, being yourself and being fabulous!

Loved it!