Dear Tooth Fairy (review)

Ruelle expands her holiday-book canon about cat sibs Harry and Emily (Easter Egg Disaster, BCCB 2/04, et al.) with an entry about a truly movable feast that cries out for a better title than Lose-your-first-tooth Day. Emily has her first wiggler, and, under the tutelage of older brother Harry, she gets ready for the big event. First come several letters to the Tooth Fairy, alerting her to stand at the ready and advising her as to exactly what treasure to bring. Then there are strategies to dislodge the tooth. And finally, when the tooth does pop out with the aid of a marshmallow, a thunderstorm threatens to keep the Tooth Fairy from her appointed rounds. Of course, there's a perfect ring and unicorn bracelet in the treasure box when Emily wakes up, and she promptly turns her attention to awaiting the next loose tooth. Every child who's cashed in on the Tooth Fairy tradition knows this is quite a deal, but even when softened by lots of rainbows and flowers and unicorns, Emily's avarice—which plays without a trace of irony—gets a bit grating. The details of Emily's vigil are predictable, and the flying Tooth Fairy Kitty herself doesn't get much face time here. Those who want the real lowdown on the Tooth Fairy should take a look at Peter Collington's wordless wonder, The Tooth Fairy (BCCB 11/95), but children who favor the independent-reader format may be satisfied with this spoils-oriented outing.