A mortal finds himself stuck in fairy territory.Oona Bramblegoop, the awkward but endearing protagonist of Newbie Fairy (2024), has a challenging new job: helping clumsy kids in need of magic underpants that prevent falls and other mishaps. One fateful night, the young fairy answers an emergency call; a boy named Marco needs assistance. But it turns out he's set a trap for Oona. In a mad scramble back to the fairy world, Oona ends up hauling Marco along-an offense sure to land her in trouble with the fairy council. She conceals a now-fairy-sized Marco, a hollow reed snorkel in his mouth, under the waters of Blackberry Bog and then renders him imperceptible with a combination of magical underpants and invisibility slime provided by her cousin Horace's slugs. But soon, Oona and friends must face their bosses' wrath and figure out how to send Marco home. This second installment of Bramblegoopian misadventures is filled with delightfully off-kilter schemes, set in a world that blends the quirky with the cute. Flowery, slug-speckled illustrations and footnotes with facts about the fairy world enhance the upbeat narrative and leave Oona poised to play detective in what promises to be an equally humorous third outing. Hairstyles and skin shading imply some racial diversity in the grayish-blue-toned artwork.Fun, funky, and imaginative. (Fantasy. 7-10)

Gr 2–4 —When a human boy accidentally follows her into the magical Blackberry Bog, Underwear Fairy Oona must break even more rules to keep her secret, enlisting her friends the Tooth Fairy and the Slug Fairy to help. Oona's sideways magic, which often doesn't come out the way she would like, usually makes the situation comically worse, like when she tries to get the boy to disappear only to have him hidden by a large pile of pigs. Only by telling the truth is she able to really solve the problem. Fun facts in the margins help with some worldbuilding and provide exposition without slowing down the story. The magical silliness and light potty humor, along with the many underwear references, make the story enticing to all demographics. Alt&3;s's illustrations feel childlike and add to the whimsy and play of the overall piece. VERDICT This series sequel is a strong addition to most collections.—Peter Blenski