The Halloween Fairies
Izzy and her friends want to wear something different for Halloween, so they transform old fairy costumes into wonderfully spooky disguises. After an evening of rhymes, treats and dancing, mysterious fairy rings appear in the garden, leaving the children wondering whether some real Halloween magic has visited them.
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“Why do Halloween costumes always have to be creepy and witchy?” Izzy asked her mother.
“Well, I suppose it’s the tradition that goes back to Ireland, probably the Jack O’ Lantern story, turnips carved out as lanterns… I think the Americans turned it into ‘trick or treat’, but at least it’s fun.” Mum shrugged her shoulders “Why do you ask?”
“Well…” Izzy was thoughtful. “Me and my friends were wondering about doing something different for Halloween. Not witches and pumpkins… but we don’t know what…”
Her mother laughed. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. Black fairies, or something creepy!”
Izzy looked at Lilly, and Lilly looked at Sara, and they all laughed.
“That’s it!” They all said at almost the exact same time.
“Scary Fairies, what do you think, girls?”
Even Ollie, her brother, laughed.
“Creepy Elves, too. Sounds like a plan…”
And that’s what happened. The children got some old fairy costumes out of the Christmas box.
“We’ll dye them black…” Izzy told her mother.
“Oh no you won’t…” Mom protested. “I’m not having black spots all over the kitchen! I’ll help, and I’ll get a proper wash-out dye. We might need those costumes again.”
And that’s what happened. It took a few dips, and the fairy dresses and wings were dark grey, not black, but Izzy found a roll of black ribbon at the bottom of the box: that really helped to make those costumes scary creepy.
They even made some droopy black flowers out of black paper – they had to rush out and buy that from the shop – it kept them very very busy!
At last they were ready. It was almost Halloween, so they were just in time!
THE BLACK SCARY FAIRIES and a BLACK ELF! (not on the shelf, but just behind the girls).
They were perfect, and ready for trick or treating.
They even made up a little rhyme – Knock, knock, knock, here we come! The scary fairies! We ring your bell and cast a spell… we won’t leave until you hand us all your candy…
The girls laughed. It was the best they could do, but it worked!
The neighbours thought they were great.
“Scary fairies, that’s a new one…” and they handed over plenty of treats.
Back home much later, they decided to make up a fairy dance as they shared out their candy.
“It really has been a great scary fairy Halloween…” they agreed. They all went to bed very, very tired.
The next day the girls slept late. Luckily it was the weekend, not school, and as Lilly walked her friends to the garden gate after breakfast, they all stopped and stared.
On the grass there were little rings of toadstools, lots of them, all sizes, big and small…
“Fairy rings?” Lilly asked her mother.
“That’s what we used to call them. It rained early this morning, and it was a bit misty… that’s what made the toadstools pop up.”
But Lilly preferred fairies to rain.
“If it is a Fairy Ring, I’ll make a wish…”
She smiled and whispered to herself. She got as near to the Fairy Ring as possible – even bit her foot almost inside it – and wished hard…
“But I’m not telling anybody at all what my wish is…” Lilly smiled from ear to ear.
Did Lilly’s wish come true? I have no idea, she won’t tell me. She just smiles and says, “That was the very best Fairy Halloween, and very, very special…”
What special things are you going to do for Halloween?
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Explore the story
Context
Explore the ideas, feelings and learning behind the story.
The Halloween Fairies is a contemporary seasonal picture book about Halloween traditions, imaginative play and fairy folklore. Izzy and her friends decide not to copy familiar costume ideas; instead, they reuse old fairy outfits and transform them with dye, ribbon and handmade paper flowers.
The story follows a clear sequence from planning and making costumes to trick-or-treating, sharing treats and inventing a fairy dance. Its dialogue, repetition and short rhyme give young readers useful patterns to anticipate, remember and join in with during a read-aloud.
The final fairy rings bring together a natural event and a child’s imaginative interpretation. The story leaves room for wonder while showing that celebrations can feel special when children contribute original ideas, work together and share the experience.
Vocabulary
Discover useful new words and what they mean.
- Tradition
- A custom or activity that people repeat over many years.
- Lanterns
- Lights protected by a case or covering so they can be carried or used outdoors.
- Dye
- A coloured substance used to change the colour of fabric or another material.
- Rhyme
- Words or lines that have matching or similar ending sounds.
- Toadstools
- Mushroom-shaped parts of fungi that appear above the ground.
- Fairy ring
- A ring-shaped pattern of mushrooms or toadstools growing in grass.
- Misty
- Filled with a light fog that makes the air look soft and cloudy.
- Whispered
- Spoke very quietly so that only someone nearby could hear.
Discussion questions
Use the story to spark thoughtful, imaginative conversations.
Celebration
- What made the children’s Halloween feel special and exciting?
- Which part of their Halloween celebration would you most enjoy joining?
- What could you do to make a familiar celebration feel new or different?
Co-operation
- How did Izzy, Lilly, Sara, Ollie and Mum help prepare the costumes?
- What might have happened if the children had refused to share their ideas or materials?
- When have you worked with someone to make or plan something together?
Tradition
- Which Halloween traditions did the children follow in the story?
- Why did Izzy want to change the usual idea of a Halloween costume?
- Which family or holiday tradition would you keep, and which one would you reinvent?
Sharing
- How did the children share the work of making their costumes?
- Why do you think they shared their candy after trick-or-treating?
- How can sharing an experience make it more enjoyable?
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful answers for parents and teachers.
What is The Halloween Fairies about?
The Halloween Fairies is a playful Halloween story about Izzy and her friends creating unusual costumes. Instead of dressing as ordinary witches or pumpkins, they transform old fairy outfits into spooky disguises, then end their celebration with a mysterious discovery in the garden.
What happens in The Halloween Fairies?
Izzy, Lilly, Sara and Ollie turn old fairy costumes into scary fairies and a creepy elf with help from Izzy’s mother. They go trick-or-treating, share their candy and make up a fairy dance. The next morning they find rings of toadstools in the garden, and Lilly makes a secret wish.
What are the main themes of The Halloween Fairies?
The story explores creativity, celebration, co-operation and sharing. It shows children adding their own ideas to a familiar tradition and working together to make something original. Readers can explore more kids’ books about celebration and co-operation at Storyberries.
What is a fairy ring, and is it really magical?
A fairy ring is a roughly circular colony of fungi that can produce rings of toadstools in grass. The story lets Lilly imagine a magical explanation, while her mother gives a natural one involving rain and mist. The Royal Horticultural Society guide to fairy rings explains how these fungal rings form.
How can parents use this story at bedtime?
Parents can read the story before Halloween and invite children to imagine their own unusual costumes. The gentle mystery around Lilly’s wish also gives families an easy way to talk about hopes, imagination and the difference between a natural explanation and a magical possibility.
How can teachers use The Halloween Fairies in class?
Teachers can use the story for seasonal literacy, costume-design activities and discussions about traditions. Children can identify the story’s sequence, find rhyming words, invent a new trick-or-treat rhyme or design a costume that combines two unexpected ideas.
How does this story support early literacy?
The story uses clear sequencing, lively dialogue, repetition and a short rhyme that children can join in with. Readers can practise predicting what the children will make and recalling the steps they followed. It works well alongside other stories for ages 4–6.
What activity can children do after reading?
Children can design a costume that combines two unexpected ideas, such as a pirate fairy or a robot wizard. They can reuse paper, ribbon or old clothing with adult supervision, or invent a short Halloween rhyme and perform it with actions. More ideas can be found in Storyberries’ kids’ books about creativity.
Credits
Meet the people who brought The Halloween Fairies to life.
