Tooth Fairy in Training by Michelle Robinson illustrated by Briony May Smith

"Of all the teeth!

Of all the kids!

The sharks! The crocs!

The giant squids!

I had to get caught

by Melissa ...

doll collecting

fairy kisser."

Tate is learning the tooth fairy trade from her older sister May. The pair travel all over the world and see teeth from all sorts of creatures in different environments until finally they reach Melissa in her bedroom This could be a disaster - but it's not.

Tate, the titular tooth fairy–in-training, narrates the rhyming text as her big sister, May, teaches her how to retrieve kids’ teeth and leave them coins. Kirkus

Briony’s illustrations are spirited delight, every one of them. Tate is totally adorable and her expressions and body language say even more than the lively rhyming narrative she (and Michelle) provides during the learning journey throughout which her big sister looks on benevolently and comments encouragingly. Red Reading Hub

Bookseller blurb: Think that being a tooth fairy is all about sparkly fairy dust, shiny coins and collecting teeny-tiny teeth from cute, sleeping children? Well, think again. Tate’s big sister May is taking her out on her very first tooth-collecting mission, and it’s going to be a little … well, dangerous. It will involve trekking through the deep, dark jungle, plunging into the murky ocean, and facing the ice of the Arctic. Because it’s not just sweet, slumbering little children that lose their pearly whites, oh no... All kinds of toothy predators lose their gnashers, too! Can Tate collect missing teeth from crocs, sharks and anacondas ... and all without waking up a single creature?

Here is the sequel to Tooth Fairy in Training:

Stories about the tooth fairy are perfect to share with children in Kindergarten or Grade One - here are some I loved to share in my library:

Oliver Sundew Tooth Fairy

It's a Miroocool!

The Tooth Fairy

You might also have this book from a couple of years ago but I would be cautious about reading this one because it does give rise to some slight doubts about the existence of the tooth fairy.

Tooth Fairy

Michelle Robinson is the author of a very funny book called There's a Lion in my Cornflakes.

Click the name Briony May Smith on this post to read about some of her other books:

A Little Bit Lola: Too Big to be a Fairy by Kiah Thomas illustrated by Bec Kitson

Lola needs money. She hits on the idea that the tooth fairy gives money - all she has to do is pull out a tooth - oh no that's not as easy as it might seem. (you could look for the book Andrew's Loose Tooth by Robert Munsch). Wait a minute Lola could become the Tooth Fairy. She tries to squish herself into her smallest clothes hoping she will instantly become smaller but sad to say that doesn't work. Lola does not give up - she thinks about fairies and their magic. Perhaps Lola can make some magic. She will need a magic wand (easy) and magic potion (are you worried about this?). Now the house is a big mess. Lola decides to clean up then dad comes home and he sees how clean everything is. Perhaps it is time for Lola to have some pocket money. Then she picks up an apple takes a big bite and ....  I'm sure you have made a connection back to that opening scene where she thought about the tooth fairy?

This story reminded me of a favourite Bluey episode - Season 1 episode 20 - Markets. 

Bookseller blurb: Everyone in Lola’s family has wheels except Lola. So, when she spots the perfect pair of roller skates, she has to have them! There’s just one problem: Lola doesn’t have any money. But the tooth fairy does … Can Lola figure out how to shrink down to the size of a fairy so she can be rich too? ... Youngest sibling Lola inspires and delights with her limitless imagination, inventive problem-solving and determination to prove she’s NOT as little as she looks. No matter the obstacle, Lola always finds a way to be whatever she dreams and to be herself.

This book is very pink and the illustrations do not really appeal to me but the story itself has some sweet moments. I think I might be tempted to read Too Big to be a Fairy without showing the pages - reading it more like a series of connected short stories. You can see many of the pages inside this book here. For a different perspective read the Reading Time review. You can see more art by Bec Kitson on her Instagram page. 

Too Big to be a Fairy is a CBCA 2026 Younger Readers Notable title. 

Here are other books from this series:

I loved a previous book for readers aged 10+ by Kiah Thomas - The Callers.

The Callers

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Tooth Fairy by Briony Stewart

The full title of this book is:

Everything you need to know about the tooth fairy 
(and somethings you didn't)

Begin with the cover. Briony Stewart is a master of movement. Go back and look at her book Gymnastica Fantastica. I love the way the magic is swirling around on this cover and you can almost hear those little sparkles. Now turn to the tooth filled end papers - these really set up the early statistics quoted by Briony:

"Every single minute of every single day, a child somewhere loses a baby tooth. In fact if you put all the children of the world together, they are losing more than 200 teeth a minute - that's 300,000 teeth every day!"

Each page in this book poses and answers an important tooth fairy question such as these (but there are more):

• What's a tooth fairy?
• What do they do with the teeth?
• Why do tooth fairies like children's teeth?
• How do they take your tooth?
• Where do tooth fairies live?
• What happens if I want to keep my tooth?
• Why does the tooth fairy leave different amounts of money? (or sometimes forget to come!)
• How do tooth fairies know when you've lost a tooth?

I am sure we will see this book listed as a 2025 CBCA Notable but will it be in Picture Book or Early Childhood or perhaps even Non Fiction? This book would be a terrific gift and I would also add it to a class mini unit about the tooth fairy. 

Here are some splendid teachers notes written by Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright and she has included a very extensive reading list with lots of picture books I certainly need to find and read.

Here are my own favourite tooth fairy books. All of these would be great to read alongside or after this new book by Briony Steward:

Oliver Sundew tooth fairy - 

this is long out of print but it is also one of my most favourite books to read aloud

The Tooth Fairy - this is wonderful wordless book

The tooth mouse

It's a Miroocool!

Oliver Sundew Tooth Fairy by Sam McBratney illustrated by Dom Mansell

Easy Fiction Treasure

Mr Nimble Jay, Mayor of the town, makes an important announcement. He needs a team of tooth fairies to retrieve a tooth from a faraway city.  This is not just any tooth - it is top tooth, a front tooth. Oliver is so excited. 

Early the next morning he joins the queue of hopeful candidates. Joining him are his friends Cornpepper Rose and Henry B. Standing beside the group they hear Martin Goosegrass.

"What are you doing here, Oliver Sundew? Nimble Jay will never pick you to be one of his tooth fairies."

During his interview with Nimble Jay, Oliver truthfully answers the questions. Afraid of spiders - no; afraid of scorpions - no; afraid of leaping trout - no. Able to fly fast?

"Oliver Sundew paused. As a matter of fact, flying gave him problems. 'You see, sir,' he explained, 'I flew into a candle when I was small and I've only got one good wing."

Oliver has failed. He tries to explain that while flying might be hard for him, he is a very good swimmer but there is no way be can be selected. Oliver is so disappointed. Nimble Jay does give him one job, however. Oliver has to go to the bank to collect the coin. Then Oliver watches his friends Cornpepper Rose, Henry B and the horrid Martin Goosegrass lift the coin, which is suspended in a large net, and fly away. 

Everyone gathers in the tooth-cobbled square for news of the tooth when all of a sudden Martin Goosegrass returns. There is a huge problem. The tooth is in water. The fairies cannot retrieve it. Fire, oil and water are the three things which fairies fear the most. Oliver speaks up. He can swim and he can fly, if he takes lots of rests. He sets off with Martin Goosegrass.  When they arrive Oliver sees the tooth down deep in a huge glass of water. He dives in and retrieves the tooth. Hooray!! 

Morning is coming. The humans will be waking. The coin is dropped into the glass and the tooth fairies fly out through the door letter box flap which Nimble Jay had cleverly propped open with a lollipop stick. Only five minutes later the postman arrives. He wonders why the letter box has been propped open.

This book has a perfect emotional arc. The sadness when Oliver has to show is burnt wing to Nimble Jay. His funny interaction at the bank with the grumpy manager. The wonderful moment when Oliver saves the day. Three cheers for our hero - Oliver Sundew.  I especially love the way Oliver exclaims "toads alive" when he is shocked about something. I have added this expression to my own vocabulary. The tooth fairies do use toads as a form of transport as you can see on the front cover. All the characters also have perfect names. Cornpepper Rose and Henry B are the right names for Oliver's friends. The name Martin Goosegrass sounds just as nasty as the character himself.  The small line drawings by Dom Mansell add so much to the story. I also laugh every time when I think about that lolly pop stick and the puzzled postman. 

Quite recently I talked about Sam McBratney and also tooth fairy books and I realised I had not specifically discussed Oliver Sundew Tooth Fairy even though it is one of my all time favourite easy chapter books and a book I have read aloud for over 25 years. I was able to source a used copy. It is not in very good shape but it feels good to have my own copy of this treasure. Perhaps you will be lucky and find one in your library too.

Charming Opal by Holly Hobbie

Many years ago I discovered the book series which features two little pigs called Toot and Puddle written by Holly Hobbie. There are more than eight books in the series and one that I had forgotten is Charming Opal. Recently some one asked a question about Tooth Fairy books (more on that in a moment) and when I did a book search many lists included this title - Charming Opal. Today I picked it up in my favourite school library and yes this is a book about the tooth fairy and yes it is truly charming!

Opal, cousin to Toot and Puddle, is visiting Woodcock Pocket. Her tooth is loose. Toot offers to help pull out the tooth but Opal wants to wait and just let it fall out when the time is right. Unfortunately the tooth falls out when the friends are swimming but brave Toot dives to the bottom of Pocket Pond and he finds the tooth! Opal carefully places the tooth under her pillow in anticipation of the arrival of the tooth fairy. Toot and Puddle would hate to see Opal disappointed. They worry that the tooth fairy might not find them out here at Woodcock Pocket so they decide to sit up all night and wait. They also prepare a back-up plan just in case the tooth fairy does not arrive but it has been a very long day and soon the two little brothers fall asleep. Did Toot and Puddle need to worry? Is Opal happy? Thank goodness for happy endings.

Here is my most favourite tooth fairy book:

Why am I talking about the Tooth Fairy? A couple of days ago someone asked this question on a Facebook forum:

"Cute books about the Tooth Fairy for a 5.5yr old girl? I saw April Underhill, Tooth Fairy recommended.... same book as April and Esme, Tooth Fairies?"

This question has two parts.  I will begin with the second part. April Underhill, Tooth Fairy is a book by Bob Graham. In America it was given a different title and a slightly different cover. More recently Bob Graham published the sequel - The Underhills, a tooth fairy story.

Here are all the covers (note there are only two books but I am showing you the US Cover):

Now onto the first part of the question. I am not sure about the word "cute" but I did search for a definition: "attractive or pretty especially in a childish, youthful, or delicate way".  I know for sure the books by Bob Graham do match the original request.

Now for some other Tooth Fairy picture books. Take a look at this Pinterest collection. Some titles I have shared in my school library on the topic of the Tooth Fairy and also the topic of loose teeth are Andrew's Loose Tooth by Robert Munsch; The Tooth Ball by Philippa Pearce; Dear Tooth Fairy by Alan Durant; and Nice try tooth fairy by Mary Olson.

When this child is a little older I would certainly share the book I put at the top of this post - The Tooth Fairy by Peter Collington. This is a magical wordless or textless book. Another special book is The Tooth Mouse by Susan Hood.

A book with an Australian flavour is It's a Miroocool by Christine Harris illustrated by Ann James.

My favourite Tooth Fairy book is not a picture book - it is a small junior novel - Oliver Sundew Tooth Fairy. 

My tooth is lost! A Monkey and Cake book by Drew Daywalt illustrated by Olivier Tallec

Monkey has lost his tooth. Cake, his friend, explains about the tooth fairy and money and how impossible it will be to use that tooth again. But is he right?

Visiting my favourite school library is one of the highlights of my week especially since (even though I am not a student) the friendly Teacher-Librarian is happy for me to borrow any book I like. Last week I talked about Spark from the Tiny Tales series by Canadian author Kallie George. This week I headed over to the same section and I found My Tooth is lost! A Monkey and Cake book. Boy oh boy oh boy this is such FUN! I am not the intended audience but I fell about laughing when I read and then reread My Tooth is lost!

Have you read the Mo Williems books about Elephant and Piggie?  The Monkey and Cake book series use the same question and answer format employing colour as a way to distinguish the two voices in the odd ball converstation:

Hello, Monkey.

Hello, Cake.

You look sad.

I am sad.

Why are you sad?

I lost a tooth.

You lost a tooth? But that is a not a bad thing. That is a good thing.

I would pair this book with the Mo Willems title I lost my Tooth:

Take a look here to see one of the book in this series - What is inside THIS box? Drew Daywalt is famous for his crayons books and Olivier Tallec is a French illustrator. Here is a work sheet but really I would just add this book to a Primary school or preschool library - no need for simple worksheets - just enjoy this book -  simply because it is such fun.

If you would like to move beyond the idea that these are just simple and funny books take a look at this interesting perspective.

The Tooth Fairy's Christmas by Peter Bently illustrated by Garry Parsons

It is Christmas eve and the Tooth Fairy expects to settle down in her comfy lounge room. She has her fire and tree which she has started to decorate. On the walls are pictures of teeth and smiles showing tooth gaps above her file cabinets which I assume are filled with details of the teeth she has collected. Unfortunately, even though it is Christmas Eve, Little Tim Tucker has lost a tooth and so the Tooth Fairy must head out into the wild snowy storm to retrieve it.

It is a terrible night and the Tooth Fairy is lost. The storm blows her off course but luckily she meets Santa and together, with a few twists and turns, they manage to pick up Tim's tooth and head back into the night.

Have you read Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present?  The best part is the final page. The contents of the present is just left to the imagination of the reader.  The same thing happens in this book.

"Night-night then, dear Santa,' the Tooth Fairy said, and soon she was fast asleep, tucked up in bed. So she didn't hear someone slip in, in his socks. ...  and reach in his sack for a brightly-wrapped box, and lay it down silently under her tree."

This is a warm story told in rhyme and it is sure to appeal to a very young child. The best aspect of this book are the glorious full page illustrations which at times zoom right into the action. On the publisher web site you can see a preview.

I laughed when Santa gets stuck as our pair of heroes attempt to leave Tim's house. 

"They ran to the window, then what rotten luck-
as Santa climbed out his big bottom got stuck!
The Tooth Fairy pushed with a Heave! and a Ho!
And together they fell in a heap in the snow."

Perhaps you could listen to the song When Santa got Stuck up the Chimney.

The designer of this book has added so many beautiful touches. On the first page there is a gift tag where you can add your name as the owner of this book. The front and back covers stretch out to reveal Santa, the happy tooth fairy (she has lost her hat) and a smiling reindeer all set on a back ground of snow and sparkling snow flakes. The end papers are red with white tree outlines and snowflakes. They might inspire an art project!

The Tooth Fairy's Christmas was published in 2014 and now a paperback edition is available. Take a look at other books by Peter Bently and the books illustrated by Garry Parsons.  The second book in this series is Happy Easter, Tooth Fairy.