Shirl’s newest collection of fairy tales, Enchanted, displays the same level of creativity, purposefulness, and affectivity as readers have come to know and love from her previous offerings, You’re Never Too Old for Fairy Tales, Once Upon a Fairy Tale, and Strength of a Lion, Soul of a Lamb. With a sincere desire and talent to bring the magical alive for readers young and old, Shirl has written tales that, at some turns, expertly revive and pay homage to the tone, language, and cathartic release of a Hans Christian Andersen tale (such as The Key ) and, at other turns, surprise and delight with a fresh voice and rhythm (such as Christmas Eve Snow and In Their Shoes. ) You’ll feel grief tempered with peace and comfort in the simple, loving, and heartfelt tale Spun Gold. You’ll experience dueling emotions of pity and disfavor in the cautionary tale, The Well of Youth. Themes of friendship and devotion abound in Tora Lora Lora and Sung from Her Heart. Perhaps most inventive are Shirl’s creation (origin) tales, best exemplified by Robin Red Breast,
Forget Me Nots,
Earth Angels, and Falling Stars. And, as always, there is a great respect and reverence for creatures, both great and small, and the power of the magical. Be enchanted… –Jennifer Sabatelli, Editor