In the last two years I have been in contact with many wonderful teachers, parents, book group leaders and others who are using the Pixie Tricks books in a variety of learning situations. Please feel free to use the book guides on this website to enhance your own Pixie Tricks reading experience.

Currently we have book guides up for the first two books, but we will be posting book guides for all eight books over the coming months. If you have any ideas that you would like to share, please email them to webmaster@pixietricks.com.

Thank you all for your continued enthusiasm about the series!

Sincerely,
Tracey West

Pixie Tricks #1 - Sprite’s Secret

Discussion Question
Pix used his fairy magic to make everyone, including the adults, play. What would happen if everyone stopped working and only played?

Writing Prompt
Sprite has given you some pixie dust. Now you can go anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye. Where would you go and why? Write a short story about your magical trip.

Activity: Invent a Pixie
Violet and Sprite had a hard time tricking Pix, the pixie who made everyone play all the time. Children can invent a new pixie for Violet and Sprite to trick. Have a children draw a picture of the fairy they have invented on a piece of paper. Underneath the picture, they can write the name of the pixie, a sentence describing the kind of mischief your pixie causes, and another sentence telling how to trick the pixie and send it back to the Otherworld.



Pixie Tricks #2 - The Greedy Gremlin

Discussion Question
Leon and Jolt both love to play video games. Do you like to play video games? What are some other hobbies you enjoy?

Writing Prompt
How do you think Jolt felt when he realized he was tricked by Violet, Sprite, and Leon? Imagine you are Jolt. Write a letter to the Pixie Trickers telling them how you feel about being tricked.

Activity: Book Recommendations
In The Greedy Gremlin, Violet visits the library because she needs to trick Jolt into reading a book. Violet tells the librarian, Ms. Bowley, that Jolt likes video games, machines and gadgets. The librarian recommends some books she thinks Jolt might read based on the things he likes.

Children can share their opinions about books they have read by writing their own book recommendations using a format like the one below. Children can share their recommendations by posting them on a bulletin board or exchanging them with friends or book group members. Encourage children to read books that sound interesting to them.


Sample:

Title of Book: Pixie Tricks #2 - The Greedy Gremlin

Author: Tracey West

In one or two sentences, describe the book: Violet and Sprite have to trick Jolt, a gremlin who loves video games, and send him back to Fairyland.

Who would you recommend this book to? I think people who like fairies, magic and video games would like this book.


Pixie Tricks #5 – The Angry Elf

Discussion Question
Because Fixit felt angry, he ruined all the toys in town. He even ruined Brittany’s birthday party and made her cry! Was it okay for Fixit to hurt other people because he was mad? Are there other ways he could have let people know how he was feeling?

Writing Prompt
Fixit was an angry elf because children were not grateful for the toys he made. Imagine that Fixit made your favorite toy. Write a thank-you note to Fixit telling him what you like about it.

Activity
Rusella liked to mix up messages. Your students can have fun playing a mixed-up sentences game.

Materials: construction paper, scissors, letter envelopes

1. On a long strip of construction paper, write sentences describing events or characters in The Angry Elf.

2. Use scissors to separate each sentence into words. Put the words for each sentence into an envelope.

3. Give students an envelope and challenge them to reconstruct the mixed-up sentence.

For a twist on this activity, have students create their own mixed-up sentences and swap them with a partner.


Pixie Tricks #7 – Double Trouble Dwarfs

Discussion Question
Greenie and Meanie stole dogs at the park. Most of these dogs were pets that belonged to other people. How do you think the people felt? How would you feel if somebody stole something that belonged to you?

Writing Prompt
Sprite is going to sprinkle some pixie dust on you! Imagine that you can turn into any animal you want to, but only for a little while! What animal would you turn into, and what would you do? Write about it.

Activity: Paper Bag Puppy Puppets

No pets? No problem! Students can follow these directions to make a dog of their very own.

Materials: paper lunch bags, construction paper, scissors, glue, crayons or markers, stickers (optional)

1. Place the lunch bag on the table with the flap side at the top and facing you. The flap will become your dog’s head.

2. Cut out construction paper eyes, ears, nose, and tongue for your dog.

3. Glue the ears, eyes and nose on top of the flap. Glue the tongue just underneath the flap, so it hangs down.

4. Decorate your dog’s body with crayons, markers, or stickers. Add spots, fur, a collar--whatever you like.

5. To work the puppet, stick your hand inside the bag and use your fingers to move the flap up and down. What kind of tricks can your dog do?