WHERE, OH WHERE DID THE TOOTH FAIRY GO?

A children’s picture book with rhyming verse that explains how brushing and flossing help the Tooth Fairy’s mission.

Kids around the country are expecting a visit from the Tooth Fairy, but they wake up to find no gifts beneath their pillows. Where could she have gone? No one seems to know; competing theories assert that she simply forgot to come, or ran out of money, or went on vacation. But the Tooth Fairy explains the reason for her absence in a letter asking kids to “Please try to remember / I’m only one fairy” and that “When teeth are not clean / they are harder to carry,” because plaque, food, and “sugar bugs” make them heavy. In response, the children vow to brush and floss regularly. In her second dental-oriented picture book, hygienist Grider links healthy habits to rewards in a kid-friendly, nonscolding way. The Tooth Fairy’s rationale for good dental care makes enough sense to make the lesson stick, and it’s helped by enjoyably skillful rhyme and meter. An accompanying activity section includes a word search, a missing-tooth diagram, and a chart to track brushing and flossing. The charming acrylic-paint illustrations by Morrison depict adorable kids of various skin colors and a pale-skinned fairy with blue-white hair.

A humorous tale that pleasantly encourages good dental habits.