The Magic of Wiggly Teeth: Wonder & Tooth Fairy Books
Is it that time? Wiggly teeth bringing giggles and excitement? It’s a magical time indeed, with the promise of a visit from the legendary tooth fairy (or perhaps the helpful little mouse in some cultures) soon to come! Whether it’s the first loose tooth or the seventh, it’s a special time because children are brimming with a delightful mix of emotions. Excitement bubbles over at the prospect of the wiggly tooth finally coming out, and curiosity runs wild as they imagine the magical world where the tooth fairy whisks away their tiny treasure. Perhaps a sprinkle of nervousness creeps in, too, wondering how exactly the tooth fairy will retrieve the tooth and what magical reward awaits them under their pillow.
Children’s natural curiosity explodes during this phase. They devour stories about the tooth fairy, eager to learn more about this fascinating creature and its whimsical world. These tales can be powerful tools to cultivate wonder and celebrate the loose tooth experience. They might get creative, attaching that loose tooth to a doorknob or letting friends and siblings wiggle it. They’ll play with it with their tongue, proudly displaying their newly discovered skills. And you, with a knowing smile, might ooh and ahh as if you don’t distinctly remember your own childhood experience with a wiggly tooth!
This flurry of questions is a natural part of the magic. Where does the tooth fairy live? What do they do with all those collected teeth? Why do other kids talk about a mouse? These can also include questions about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and other fantastical creatures. It’s part of the wonder of childhood, and while it can be tiring at times, it’s a beautiful reminder to lean into their imagination and celebrate the magic.
Enchanting Tooth Fairy Books: Spark Imagination and Celebrate the Wiggle
Here’s where enchanting tooth fairy books can weave their magic. Stories about the tooth fairy can be powerful tools to cultivate wonder and celebrate the loose tooth experience. These delightful stories can spark curiosity about the tooth fairy’s world and the importance of caring for those pearly whites, and they can create lasting memories as you share these heartwarming stories.
Written by Nina Nolan, Illustrated by John Holyfield
This is a cute story with both The Tooth Fairy and El Ratón Pérez! I love an overlap of cultures, and this is precisely that. The Tooth Fairy and El Ratón go for the same tooth one night from a Spanish-speaking little boy. At first, they are both trying to have it for themselves before a twist of fate leads them to learn to help each other. It is a lovely story using many Spanish words and merging two cultures’ childhood legends.
It’s a story about unexpected friends and how teamwork often creates lifetime bonds, even by those who initially don’t have anything in common. It’s perfect for a bilingual Spanish/English child or any child with a budding interest in languages or cultures.
ages 3-5
Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems
Mo Willems is at it again! This time it’s a bunch of squirrels helping to find Zoom Squirrel’s lost tooth, lost baby tooth. It’s probably all alone and hungry; it’s just a baby! The other squirrels set out to find it, leaving Zoom Squirrel alone to think of where it might have fallen out and try to see it. This is a book with a lot of lagniappe; thank goodness we have a table of contents in the beginning to help us understand everything. There are extra jokes, a tooth quiz, and even more jokes! After the story are jokes and information about teeth (human and squirrel) provided by a Research Rodent! The hilariousness of this whole book is impossible to miss.
This is perfect for kids with a great sense of humor and lots of questions. It also works perfectly for those kids who want chapter books, even if they don’t read yet!
ages 3-7
Written by Deborah Underwood, Illustrated by Claudia Rueda
A mischievous cat loses a tooth but wants the Tooth Fairy to return because they didn’t get to meet! The cat tries to trick the Tooth Fairy with unexpected consequences. The cat becomes a tooth fairy, along with an equally mischievous mous. They may meet the Tooth Fairy if they collect the list of teeth the Tooth Fairy has asked for. The cat and the mouse must use their cunning skills to help each other instead of using tricks.
It is a cute, easy-to-read book about the advisability of playing tricks on magical creatures. This is important to learn at a young age, and the tooth fairy makes a perfect test case.
ages 3-6
Written and Illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann
Josie is used to being the first and the best. She does everything better than everyone else and is naturally competitive, so shockingly, she isn’t the first person in her class to lose a tooth. She isn’t even second. She’s the last one! How could that even happen? She finally feels one start to wiggle and gets her best friend Richard to help her make it come out. Together, they have plenty of ideas, but nothing works until she falls and the tooth falls out. But where did it go? It’s finally out, but it’s now lost! What can she do now?
Ultimately, this is a fantastic story about the nature of best friends, the desire to succeed, and how to handle it when life throws a curveball. Richard and Josie are some of my favorite best friends because they genuinely appreciate and rely on each other. They are #BFFgoals.
ages 3-6
Written by Selby Beeler, Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
What happens when you lose a tooth? The answer depends on where you live and what cultures you celebrate. Children worldwide mark the occasion differently and symbolize the passing into the next, older stage of childhood. After that, they are officially big kids. From putting your tooth under your pillow and waiting for the Tooth Fairy or the Little Mouse (in much of North and South America) to throwing your tooth backward on the roof so a new tooth will grow in straight (Indonesia), making wishes (Greece), birds who come to collect the baby teeth (Brazil), and take their tooth to the southeast, away from their house then bury the tooth on the east side (the cardinal direction associated with childhood) of sagebrush, rabbitbrush, or pinyon tree (Navajo).
This book is a lovely collection of cultural traditions from around the world. It’s perfect for all kids because each country or culture is a summary, and it’s super easy to pick up and put whether for further discussion or just the busyness of daily life. In addition, every tradition is lovely and unique to mark a grand transition.
ages 3-8
Lost My Tooth in Africa
Written by Penda Diakité, Illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité
Amina lives in Portland, but her father’s family is from Bamako, Mali, where she is going for a visit. She already has a wiggly tooth on the plane, and her father tells her if she puts it under a gourd, she will get a chicken from the African Tooth Fairy. When they land, Amina is motivated to get chickens and starts working to make this vaguely wiggly tooth fall out, but it doesn’t seem to want to. She starts to get wrapped up in her day in Africa with food, animals, and family. Amina only thinks about her tooth in passing but worries about it falling out at bedtime. After receiving blessings from her grandmother, N’na, the following day, she brushes her teeth at the papaya tree, only to realize that her tooth has fallen out!
It is a darling story filled with life in Mali and its traditions. The author and illustrator are a father and daughter who work together. This is the true story of Amina Diakité, the author’s little sister and the illustrator’s younger daughter. If this book doesn’t make your little one tell you they want to be on the next plane to Mali, really nothing will. What child doesn’t want a chicken from the Tooth Fairy after all?
age 4-7
