28th February World Tooth Fairy Day

Losing baby teeth is an inevitability of growing up, and for children the Tooth Fairy or the Tooth Mouse are meant to soften the blow of pain or bleeding that may have accompanied the tooth falling out. The children I teach are at the age where loosing a tooth is common place. When I first started teaching I remember being gobsmacked when one of my students told me how much the tooth fairy had left her. When my children were loosing teeth I remember my daughter saying that her tooth fairy was a cheapskate compared to her friends' tooth fairies. I googled to see what the going rate is at the moment...in 2022 it was just over five dollars so no doubt it will soon be higher.

Although most of us are familiar with the traditional “tooth fairy” who has been around for centuries, the Tooth Mouse is an alternative that is much more familiar around the world. In France the Tooth Mouse is known as La Petite Souris, which is translated to “little mouse” in English. This little mouse  leaves behind not money, but a little gift for the child. In parts of Africa children throw their teeth on the roof of their home in the hope that a mouse will take their teeth and by doing so return to them the gift of new teeth as strong as that of a rat or mouse. In Spain and Mexico a rat (Raton Perez) collects the children's teeth and leaves behind coins.

If you want to find out about all three read these:

 • The Tooth Mouse   by Susan Hood and Janice Nadeau

In this charming picture book written by Susan Hood, the Tooth Mouse (who replaces the Tooth Fairy in French-speaking countries) has called a meeting to announce her retirement. "I am not as spry as I used to be ... I have decided it is time to name my successor!" she tells the surprised crowd. Sophie, an energetic and very tiny mouse, desperately wants the job. "C'est moi!" Sophie thinks. "Choose me! Choose me!" But the position of Tooth Mouse --- or La Petite Souris --- isn't just given to anyone; it must be earned by participating in a difficult and dangerous three-part contest to determine which of all the mouse applicants is the most brave, honest and wise.

• The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Perez by 

Ana Cristina Herreros and Violeta Lopiz  This book will be available here in April!

Long ago, throughout the Spanish-speaking world, the Tooth Mouse brought children their permanent teeth, strong and straight as a mouse's. Tracing the Tooth Mouse's beginnings through to his descendants, this book artfully weaves the Tooth Mouse's changing habits as the world industrialises, with the growing independence of the child, as teeth fall out and the child learns to care for themselves.

• Throw Your Tooth on the Roof by Selby Beeler and G. Brian Karas

When you lose a tooth, do you put it under your pillow and wait for the tooth fairy? In Botswana, children throw their teeth onto the roof. In Afghanistan they drop their teeth down mouse holes. From Egypt to Venezuela, Spain to Korea losing a tooth is an exciting milestone that's honored with unique traditions. Discover the variety of customs from every corner of the globe.

There are many picture books about the tooth fairy, but I usually suggest this one because I like the sentiment, even though I don't love the illustrations.

•Tooth Fairy  by Audrey Wood.

When Matthew loses a tooth, Jessica decides to make the Tooth Fairy's visit doubly worthwhile. Fantastic for encouraging children to keep their teeth clean enough to warrant a place in the 'hall of perfect teeth'. 

And for every child who has the dilemma of a lost tooth...

• Dave and the Tooth Fairy  by Verna Wilkins and Carl Pearce

Dave has a wobbly tooth. He wibbles and wobbles it, but it won't come out. But then one day Dave lets out an enormous sneeze and the tooth flies across the room and vanishes. Dave searches high and low, but it's nowhere to be seen. How will he get the tooth fairy to visit him now? 

For more tooth fairy books see here.