Hehe, I just went through the same thing. I'd read a book in fifth grade that I really liked but couldn't remember now. I looked on google and asked all the people I knew if they could remember a book about a fairy who gives a couple a little girl with a pink lock of hair. At one point, the girl wishes for too many toys and is almost crushed by them.
Anyway, I finally found the book by browsing around DI. I was so excited I almost shouted out for joy right there in the store!
The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Banks.
While on the subject, there's this fantasy book, and the main hero starts off by running around the streets (I get the impression he was a bit of a street rat) and it talks about how he can smell blood and death all around him. Then the plot goes to other characters, blah, blah, blah, main character is now with a girl and they are travelling to the main bad guys. A black gryphon attacks him, he kills it, and it is reborn as a white, good gryphon. Something about the bad guys tower, but instead of going up, they go down, tower is destroyed and they get out just in time.
Well, if it sounds familiar to anyone I'd really appreciate the help. Sorry, but I don't know any of the characters names. I know, I know, not enough to go on, but maybe someone here has read the story and will know what I'm talking about.