Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment recently released Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (G), the third installment in a direct-to-DVD computer-animated film series.
Once again, the action is centered on the eponymous pixie, a character originally created by J. M. Barrie and prominently featured in Disney's classic animated movie, Peter Pan (1953). Set years before her adventures with Wendy and the Lost Boys, Rescue showcases how Tinker Bell (voiced by Mae Whitman) experiences her first encounter with a human being. It's summer, and the sprightly protagonist and her Pixie Hollow cohorts travel to England to help bring in the season.
Although Tink has been warned to stay away from humans, she is very curious, and ends up getting trapped inside a miniature house left outdoors by a little girl. Lizzy Griffiths (Lauren Mote) has been fascinated by fairies all her life and is absolutely thrilled to finally meet one. Back in Lizzy's room, the two quickly find a way to communicate and begin to forge a friendship. Though Tink is free to go, she becomes determined to help the lonely child reconnect with her always-too-busy father (Michael Sheen) and remains despite the danger of discovery.
Meanwhile, Vidia (Pamela Adlon), Tink's ill-natured rival, and the other fairies must work together to mount a daring rescue operation. Can this mission succeed before Dr. Griffiths reveals the existence of fairies to the entire world?
Kids can make a beeline to the "Disney Fairies" website to view an array of movie previews and music videos as well as snippets from other films. Those who would like to explore further can access profiles of the fairy characters (which include personality traits, likes and dislikes, and notable quotes), browse the latest "Never News" and "Pixie Polls," find games and crafts, and link to books and merchandise. By signing up for a free membership, youngsters can also create their own Fairy or Sparrow Man avatars and participate in an online version of the Pixie Hollow world.
Movie Tie-ins
Random House has published a line of eye-catching tie-in titles fine-tuned for a variety of reading tastes and abilities. Affordably priced and sturdily bound, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue: A Read-Aloud Storybook (PreS-Gr 4) retells the plot with a fast-paced narrative and vibrantly colored illustrations. Varied visual perspectives delineate the size difference between Tinker Bell and Lizzy, while warm hues underscore their growing mutual affection. Scintillating pinpoints of pixie dust keep the mood magical, whether the book is being shared aloud or read independently. The same audience will appreciate Fairy Rescue Team, a staple-bound picture book with soft-edged artwork that describes the adventures of Vidia and her friends as they ride a rigged-together boat down roaring rapids, get stuck in deep mud, and survive the claws of an angry cat. As the story unfolds, the characters discover the importance of working together and find strength in their friendship pledge: "Faith, trust, and pixie dust."
Another movie tie-in Vidia Takes Charge (Gr 1-3), a Level 3 "Step into Reading" easy reader, combines short sentences, controlled vocabulary, and page-turning pacing. Movie fans will power through the plot as Vidia, the "fast-flying fairy," watches Tink's capture and returns to the others to sound the alarm. Presented in a neat layout that never overwhelms the text, the artwork will delight youngsters while providing visual clues to the content.
For more confident readers, Kimberly Morris's entertaining junior novelization version (Gr 3-6) retells the movie plotline in rich detail. The roles played by the various fairies in the changing of the seasons, as well as Tinker Bell's independent streak, are clearly established in the first few pages, providing a bit of background for those unfamiliar with the story. Lucidly described action scenes are balanced with quieter moments, and the bond between Tink and Lizzy is gradually developed. Eight pages of captioned, full-color movie stills are included.
With crisp comic-book style artwork, concise narrative captions, and lively dialogue balloons, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue: The Graphic Novel (Gr 1-6), published by Papercutz,will win over an array of readers. The endpapers feature an inviting image of six fairy friends posed together and the opening spreads clearly introduce the Pixie Hollow back story. Emphasis is placed on Tink's interactions with Lizzy and their blossoming friendship, while the action-packed climax—featuring the antics of Vidia and the other fairies—will keep youngsters swiftly turning pages. Throughout, the pictures support the text with plenty of detail, aiding new readers with visual clues and touches of humor.
What's New in Never Land?
Are your readers clamoring for more adventures about Tink, her friends, and the happenings of Pixie Hollow? Random House continues to expand its "Disney Fairies" chapter books series (Gr 2-5), which pairs accessible text with airy, full-color artwork. Two of the latest offerings are Vidia Meets Her Match, in which the surly fairy competes in one breathtaking race after another to prove that she truly is the speediest, and Rani: Two Friendship Tales (both 2010), which presents two novellas about this kindhearted fairy.
Fairy aficionados will find themselves enthusiastically fluttering toward a new series of "Disney Fairies" graphic novels launched this year by Papercutz with Prilla's Talent (Gr 1-6). Each volume presents four original comic book stories. Readers are drawn into each tale by a full-page illustration and brief teaser (e.g., "Think Tinker Bell and Rani are best friends forever? Don't be so sure..."). Told mostly through fast-reading dialogue balloons, the narratives reveal the wonders of day-to-day life in Never Land and take on themes such as friendship, the importance of working together, and the value of discovering one's unique abilities. Bright colors and crisp ink lines make the artwork appealing, with the illustrative panels conveying both the story's content and the magical mood. The series continues with Tinker Bell and the Wings of Rani (#2) and Tinker Bell and the Day of the Dragon (#3). Readers can visit the Papercutz website for a preview of the comics and to meet the characters.
Publication Information
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Sept. 2010. DVD $19.99; 2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD $24.99.
MARSOLI, Lisa, adapt. Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue: A Read-Aloud Storybook. Random House. 2010. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2676-3.
MORRIS, Kimberly, adapt. Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue: Fairy Rescue Team. Random House. 2010. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2675-6.
LAGONEGRO, Melissa. Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue: Vidia Takes Charge. Random House. 2010. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-8086-4; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2686-2.
MORRIS, Kimberly, adapt. Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue: The Junior Novelization. Random House. 2010. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2689-3.
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue: The Graphic Novel. Papercutz. 2010. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-1-59707-232-8.
THORPE, Kiki. Vidia Meets Her Match. illus. by Judith Holmes Clarke & Adrienne Brown. Random House. 2010. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2607-7.
MORRIS, Kimberly & Lisa Papademetriou. Rani: Two Friendship Tales: Rani and the Three Treasures & Rani in the Mermaid Lagoon. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2730-2.
Disney Fairies: Prilla's Talent (#1). Tr ISBN 978-1-59707-187-1; pap. ISBN 978-1-59707-186-4.
Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Wings of Rani (#2). Tr ISBN 978-1-59707-227-4; pap. ISBN 978-1-59707-226-7.
Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Day of the Dragon (#3). Tr ISBN 978-1-59707-129-1; pap. ISBN 978-1-59707-128-4.
Ea vol: Papercutz. 2010. pap. $7.99; Tr $12.99.
This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.
RSS
