Thank you to NetGalley, Megan McDonald, Lenny Wen, and Candlewick Press for the ARC audio. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was such a fun read and I loved that I could share the experience with my daughter in a way that she was just as excited to listen in. Perfect for young listeners or middle readers the story is thoughtful and sweet and we both enjoyed it immensely. I also loved all of the name choices throughout the book utilizing both beautiful flowers and poisonous plants as foreshadowing. I can’t wait to investigate additional books by Megan to continue listening with my daughter.

I listened to this with my 7 and 9 years old girls and we loved it. Fun characters, great narrations, and a perfect subject matter for my girls!

I listened to this book with my 7 year old daughter. We both loved it! It was as if we were on the adventure too! This story encouraged my daughter to use her imagination and follow her heart of kindness!

This is such a fun story, and I can't wait to dive further into this series! I have only listened to the audiobook version, so I can only imagine (based on the beautiful cover) that the illustrations are probably fabulous ... but the narration by Stephanie Willing was so spot-on that I didn't really miss the artwork (although of course now I need to go get my hands on a physical copy of the book and take a look)!

The story gave me the same vibes as the PBS kids show, DragonTales that my children were obsessed with when they were young. I am certain my granddaughter (age 4) is going to love this story as much as her dad loved that show, and I can't wait to share it with her the next time I visit!

Eliza's inquisitive nature and kindness really works well as for younger readers moving towards more complicated concepts. Poppy and Haiku are lovely literary elements. The witch Wolfsbane made me grin when narrator Stephanie Willing lets out the best wails.

My only real concern was the plop on plot for beginning readers. I needed more context, so I'm sure younger readers will as well. Felt as if we already knew the character relationships off the bat instead of learning about Eliza and Poppy as we read along.

However, this does over the chance for older readers to instill media literacy and criticism early on. To help readers grow as they age up.

I think each flower matching a fairy was a smart idea in keeping reader interest. I have a younger reader who will enjoy the series. For the age, level, and fun adventures, I'll definitely rec this one out.

Thanks to NetGalley, Megan McDonald, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review the book. I look forward to the next in the series

This book was cute! My 6 year old is obsessed with fairies and I know she will love this. I will edit my review once she listens to it as well!

Thank you Net Galley for such a sweet story! I was not paid for this review.

“Every Fairy has a flower and every flower has a fairy” this was my favorite line. I love the imagination used for this book! I suggest parents listen before allowing their child to but it is very sweet and I hope there are more to come!

What a fun and magical adventure following Eliza of the elfs who has a secret space called the Land of UnderStair. Upon going through the door Eliza picks the wrong flower and things go a miss. The story used poisonous plant names as the name for the villains Belladonna and wolfsbane. I had the benefit of being able to listen to the audiobook and can only imagine how magical the pictures are in the book.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a gifted review copy)


Review has been posted to good reads.

What a magical story from the author of Judy Blume! Even as an adult I was completely immersed in the story and the magic of what was happening. I would pick up more from this fairy door diaries series!

Eliza and the Flower Fairies is part of the Fairy Door Diaries.

When Eliza of the Elves takes the teeny magical door in her secret hideout, she is transported to the land of the Flower Fairies. But, when Eliza ventures too far, and tries to pick a strange flower, she falls beyond the safety of the hedgerow.

When Poppy tries to save Eliza, she is captured. Can Eliza brave her fears to save her fairy friends in time?

Eliza and the Flower Fairies is a heartfelt journey of friendship, bravery and love.

Fairy Door Diaries is a fun and cozy book for young readers. The narrator's reading is clear and friendly, and the voices of various characters are easily differentiated. I like the idea of a secret world Eliza can visit at will, and her dragonfly friend is a fun addition. As part of a series, it's possible we will find out more about how the magic works. but when I started this story I was convinced I missed either a previous volume or some paragraphs in this volume. I understand that chapter books for newer readers can't be too wordy, but few lines to explain how the magic is working, if Eliza has visited here before, or how she knew about the magic would help me. I loved the ending, where Eliza shared her story with her younger sister. It's a lovely way to both end this book, and set us up for more.

A teeny-tiny fairy door.
Now imagine it is magic.
Open the door.

To some, the low door in Eliza’s bedroom might look like an ordinary entrance to a crawl space under the stairs. But to a believer like Eliza of the Elves, it’s the door to the Land of UnderStair, a secret hideout all her own. In this launch of a new series, Megan McDonald brings her well-honed flair for wordplay to delicious villains like the witches Wolfsbane and Belladonna as she follows a child with a big imagination to a different fairy realm in each book.

This was such a fun children’s book. The story was very imaginative and full of wonder. The door inside the door in Eliza’s bedroom opened to a fairy world, not unlike the wardrobe door to Narnia. And the other side of it was a garden full of beautiful flowers with personality, not unlike the garden in Alice in Wonderland.

I really enjoyed Eliza’s adventure. It had great suspenseful scenes too. Listening to the audiobook, I realised I was missing out on the beautiful illustrations that the picture book would have. But even without that, the story itself was rich and magical. So glad to see this was just the first book in a series!

This author is a master at entertaining children’s books. I love the new series. Cute concept. Well written fun story.

The Fairy Door Diaries by superster kidlit writer Meg MdDonald is a sweet, simple book about a girls journey to fairyland. It's a delightful book for children and their adult listening companions. It is a good fit for children who love fantasy that is magical but not scary. The narrator sets just the right tone for the story. You can listen to the story by itself or purchase the print book for a read along experience.

Gorgeous middle-grade read! 🧚🏼‍♀️✨
I both read and listened to this book, and the two together really bring the story to life. The narrator does a superb job of giving each character their own distinct voice, making the experience even more immersive. I absolutely adore the illustrations! I've previously read Wolfgang the Ghost by Lenny Wen and immediately fell in love with her art style. It’s the perfect match for this whimsical story!

Even if you’re not a middle-grade reader, I highly recommend picking this up just to enjoy her gorgeous illustrations and see how well they complement the tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!

This is a charming children’s story about a little girl who saves the day by rescuing some flower fairies. Very cute and engaging. We received the audio book version and my nearly 8 year old and I listened to it in one sitting. Special thanks to Dreamscape media for allowing us this opportunity.
Child’s review: This is a good book for kids. Because there is a girl saving a fairy, fairy tales and humongous surprises!
I recommend that everyone who sees this book read it.

My 4-year-old is obsessed with fairies and building fairy houses, so this story was perfect for us! We’ll definitely be playing the audiobook on repeat whenever we’re in the car.

An enchanting story, eliza and her fairy adventures.
A magical doorway to the fairy world and a journey with a few flower friendships, each with a different talent.
An accidental fall puts her in a flower graveyard which is guarded by 2 evil witches.
My grandson loved it. Especially the narrator, she was brilliant.

I was super excited to read this book by Megan McDonald since my oldest loved all of her books growing up!

Eliza discovers that the crawl space in her bedroom is not just ordinary storage. It’s a secret door to the Land of UnderStair, a magical world filled with dreams, fairies, and enchanting flowers! Things suddenly take a turn when Eliza tries to pick a mysteriously beautiful flower. Can Poppy save Eliza before it’s too late?

Somehow I ended up with an audio book and a ebook of this book, which is kind of fun because I was able to observe more about the story.

Pros: The ebook version is adorable. The graphics are vivid and colorful. The story is fairly short, so it’s great for the kiddos who don’t sit still for very long.
The audiobook has such cute voices, and is actually played out as a dramatization. It makes it very easy to listen to and to pay attention to the story!

Cons: My only complaint with this book is the talk of a “demon wind.” For the ages it’s aimed at (5-9 years) I feel like that’s much too scary of a concept, especially for the younger audiences. There is also talk of witches and villains, which I’m not especially fond of for that age.

I would recommend parents give this a read through first to check and see if it’s appropriate for their children.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion. I rate this book as three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies, the start of a new series by Megan McDonald, is a whimsical and enchanting tale that invites readers into a miniature world of magic and mischief. Known for her beloved Judy Moody books, McDonald brings her signature charm and humor to this delightful fairy adventure.

Stephanie Willing’s narration brings the characters to life with warmth and energy, making the audiobook an engaging experience for listeners of all ages. And while the story itself sparkles with imagination, the stunning illustrations by Lenny Wen add an extra layer of magic. With intricate, dreamy artwork, Wen’s visuals perfectly capture the wonder of the fairy realm, making it a joy to flip through the pages.

A perfect read (or listen!) for young fantasy lovers, Fairy Door Diaries is a promising start to what is sure to be a captivating new series.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, the author And NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the first book of what will surely become a beloved series.

A magical whimsical story of fairies, witches and and the Land of UnderStair. A tale of friendship and adventure, this story captivated my 6 year old. We listened to it before bed and she now wants her own crawl space hideout (and tiny magical door to the land of fairies).

Stephanie Willing did an excellent job with the voices that really captured the fun spirit of the story. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for early access to the audiobook in exchange for an early review. All opinions are my own.