How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell (review)

Kaylee loves to pull pranks, whether she's dropping water balloons on her friends or trying to trick Santa as he comes down the chimney. When Kaylee plays a joke the Tooth Fairy, however, she's finally met her match, because the Tooth Fairy is the princess of all pranksters. The fake frog Kaylee hid under her pillow gets turned into a bunch of real frogs, and a piece of pie spiked with hot sauce sets off ice cream projectiles in an escalating prank war that's sure to tickle viewers. With a mischievous twinkle in her wide, adorable eyes, brown-skinned Kaylee is a charming protagonist and perfect counterpart to the pink-haired, bewinged Tooth Fairy. Kaylee's gags stay (mostly) in the territory of good fun, and by the end of the book she and the Tooth Fairy are partners in mischief instead of foes. Simple text is accessible to early readers, and older children might enjoy reading and performing the story for younger peers. Candy-colored illustrations in oil on brown paper bring this romp to topsy-turvy life and make it perfect for a giggly storytime. SS