Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (and some things you didn’t) (Briony Stewart, Lothian)

If you know a young person who has questions about the tooth fairy, then Briony Stewart’s latest picture book might just be perfect for you. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (and some things you didn’t) gives readers an insight into the world of tooth fairies, because as it turns out, there’s more than one. Stewart carefully describes how millions of tooth fairies live in Hypnagogia, an enchanted and hard-to-find place. Here, the fairies train in advanced sneaking and tooth-carrying, then use a special portal to visit the house of a child who has recently lost a tooth. Stewart’s (The Garden at the End of the World) detailed illustrations offer more information about what a tooth fairy house looks like and the kind of magic the fairies can use, including growing and shrinking, locating teeth, and turning each other into toadstools, just for fun. This playful story for curious kids aged 5+ answers all their questions, such as what happens to the teeth after the fairies take them, and whether the tooth fairies visit other countries. It also touches on more sensitive topics, explaining why some tooth fairies leave more money than others and what happens to teeth with cavities. Adults will enjoy having these questions answered, as well as some of the more tongue-in-cheek humour.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is a librarian, bookseller, author, and the vice president of CBCA VIC Branch. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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