A Book Fairy is on the loose in a north-eastern Victorian town, creating joy for local children in lockdown.
Three-year-old Freya Bijker stumbled across a surprise left by the mysterious local Book Fairy during her daily lockdown walk in Beechworth, sparking excitement for much of the week.
Local Facebook posts show the Book Fairy and its little helpers around Beechworth have been busy, with many children now finding books around the town.
Freya's mother, Catherine, said such small acts of kindness and creativity were bringing vital magic back into children's and parents' mundane lockdown lives.
"It was getting towards the end of the walk when the children were starting to complain," she said.
In a plastic bag on a rock by the shores of Lake Sambell was a copy of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
It also included a message from the mysterious Book Fairy.
"It was a very long note and it basically said we have put this here to share the joy of reading with you," Ms Bijker said.
"We hadn't actually read this book so my three-year-old Freya was so excited to get home and to just sit down and read a brand new book.
"I think we read it about six times that afternoon."
Passing on the magic
Ms Bijker said the magic continued for the family, with the Book Fairy asking them to either keep the book, pass it on, or hide it for another child to find.
"Someone out there has got a really kind heart and just wanting to make lockdown a little bit easier on everyone, but especially the young kids now kindergartens and child care and everything's shut up.
The Book Fairy began its work during last week's Book Week, but the magic is set to continue as there has been so much positive feedback from families during lockdown.
"We want the love of literacy to continue for life, so it's a great way to do that and get excitement in our lives again," Ms Bijker said.
