Letting Boys Believe in Fairies

It makes me sad that many parents discourage their little boys from believing in fairies. They let the boys believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, dragons and monsters, but when it comes to fairies, that’s where many draw the line. I visit many schools and libraries, reading The Knot Fairy and The Sock Fairy. I sell almost as many books to boys as girls, however I’ve met many parents who will not let their sons buy the books. I’ve had fathers say to me, “These are girls’ books, right?” Actually the Sock Fairy is a little boy fairy, proving, without a doubt, that fairies themselves can be boys or girls. When I ask the children to make up their own stories about fairies that they have created, the boys become as excited as the girls. Yes, there is a difference between the fairies that the boys create versus the ones created by the girls. The boys have come up with ideas such as the Lunchbox Fairy, the Thunder Fairy and the Broken Toy Fairy, while the girls have created the Earring Fairy, the T-Shirt Fairy and the Rainbow Fairy. So, what’s the harm in letting boys believe? They love to believe in dragons and elves. Please let them believe in fairies, too. Before long they will be older and their imaginations will be (unfortunately) stifled by the world around them. Let them hold onto their imaginations as long as they can. And, Dad, if it makes you feel any better, some fairies do very unpleasant things.