The Fairy Queen

5.0

0.0 (0)

288 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Chrissy Donoghue Ward

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Monika Mitkute

Publisher Name

Little Island Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

May 13, 2025

ISBN13

978-1915071569

ISBN10 or ASIN

Have you ever wondered how leprechauns came to be in Ireland?

The Travellers lived happily, travelling from place to place, until one day the bad king and queen arrived in Ireland.

The king of the Travellers, and his grandchildren run away to the woods. There they meet the lovely fairy queen, who turns all the Travellers into leprechauns so they can hide from the bad queen’s soldiers.

A tale rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community, by beloved storyteller Chrissy Donoghue Ward.

Editor review

1 review

How Leprechauns Came To Be

May 25, 2025 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

The Travellers of Ireland live a simple life and love nature and music. They travel from town to town mending pots and buckets for people, because they're nice. They don't need the money as they have no real use for it. So when a greedy king and queen come to their country, the Travellers offer no financial gain to them. Only caring about gold and riches, the king enslaves the Travellers and forces them to work to earn them gold.

The king of the Travellers manages to hide and escape the cruel king's soldiers. While trying to warn the other Travellers, he runs into a Fairy Queen who is sad when she hears of their suffering. She offers them peace and a place of refuge by turning them into little people, now known today as leprechauns. Now, the king of the Travellers has the power to save his people.

THE FAIRY QUEEN is a fascinating and poetic story of how leprechauns came to be. It's full of magic and teaches children good morals. The illustrations are stunning with their detailed line work. I love folklore and learning of new cultures. Leprechauns have always been a fascinating concept and I love how this author encompasses the magic of them with her lyrical storytelling.

Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children aged six and older who enjoy stories about history, folklore, leprechauns, and magic. The power of storytelling is a fascinating thing and this book celebrates just one of the stories of the Irish. I'd be intrigued to read more.