A SHARK TOOTH FAIRY TALE

A tooth fairy helps out under the sea in Morgan’s picture book.

The shark tooth fairy, Mrs. Chompers, asks the human tooth fairy, Mrs. Pearly White, to fill in for her while she’s out sick. Mrs. Pearly White agrees, chanting a magic spell that turns her into a mermaid for 24 hours. Now under the water, she uses her magical map to locate the many shark pups hiding teeth under their pillows, which she exchanges for treats (it’s not indicated exactly what these treats are). However, because sharks “have more teeth than humans do,” the list of houses Mrs. Pearly White must visit continues to grow. Soon, she runs out of treats. Resourcefully, she opens up oyster shells, collects the pearls, and swaps them for the shark pups’ teeth. After an eventful evening, she returns home in time to tuck in her daughter, Ivory. The story here is sweet and imaginative. The tale would have been more engaging, however, if readers could take part in a lengthier, problem-solving process. The author includes helpful educational resources, like a list of “Ten Ways That You Can Protect Our Waterways,” featuring practical solutions (use reusable water bottles). Civati’s brightly hued, cartoonlike portrayals feature friendly faces with big eyes and depictions of anthropomorphic undersea happenings, like shark pups tucked into their beds. The gradient backdrops, including sea and skylines, are particularly lovely. The human characters are White.

A cleverly illustrated ocean tale offering charming details and accessible educational elements.