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Ly-Lan Finds a Way #3
Ly-Lan and the Missing Tooth Fairy
Sometimes it’s hard to wait! In this third book in the Ly-Lan Finds a Way chapter book series about a daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Ly-Lan loses a tooth, but the Tooth Fairy doesn’t visit her that night. Now she has to solve a mystery (where is the missing Tooth Fairy?) while learning patience and finding a way to thrive.
Everyone in Ly-Lan’s class seems to be losing teeth lately, but Ly-Lan only has one that is just a little bit loose. Then she bites into a mooncake that she got from the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it suddenly falls out! When she puts it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy and it’s still there the next day, she declares the Tooth Fairy must be missing. Ly-Lan rallies her friends to help look for the Tooth Fairy, but the adults are less helpful. They keep talking to Ly-Lan about patience and God’s timing. There are more questions than answers in this mysterious case, but Ly-Lan will not rest until she has answers!
Ly-Lan and the Missing Tooth Fairy:
is the third in a series of illustrated chapter books about the irrepressible Ly-Lanis written by Vietnamese American author Hà Dinh, creator of HappyDaysinFirstGrade.com and @hellomrsdinh on Instagramtackles familiar themes like friendship, overcoming obstacles, and navigating changes and challenges in life with grace
This series is perfect for kids ages 6-10 or reluctant and emerging readers just starting to read chapter books on their own.
Everyone in Ly-Lan’s class seems to be losing teeth lately, but Ly-Lan only has one that is just a little bit loose. Then she bites into a mooncake that she got from the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it suddenly falls out! When she puts it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy and it’s still there the next day, she declares the Tooth Fairy must be missing. Ly-Lan rallies her friends to help look for the Tooth Fairy, but the adults are less helpful. They keep talking to Ly-Lan about patience and God’s timing. There are more questions than answers in this mysterious case, but Ly-Lan will not rest until she has answers!
Ly-Lan and the Missing Tooth Fairy:
is the third in a series of illustrated chapter books about the irrepressible Ly-Lanis written by Vietnamese American author Hà Dinh, creator of HappyDaysinFirstGrade.com and @hellomrsdinh on Instagramtackles familiar themes like friendship, overcoming obstacles, and navigating changes and challenges in life with grace
This series is perfect for kids ages 6-10 or reluctant and emerging readers just starting to read chapter books on their own.
96 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 14, 2026
Ly-Lan is a Tran. Reader, I giggled. IYKYK
She has a friend named Cece. Reader, I giggled again.
In all seriousness, another cute addition to this series where Vietnamese American Ly-Lan grows up in Texas with American friends. She has a new friend from Vietnam who is helping her with her Vietnamese.
In this installment, most of her classmates have lost teeth and been visited by the Tooth Fairy. Not Ly-Lan. So she tries to get a friend to help her lose it. Spoiler: It doesn't go well.
When she finally loses her tooth biting into a soft mooncake, the Tooth Fairy skips her not once, but twice. Parents and grandparents are acting shady in the background. Obviously, we know why.
And then she only gets $1. I'm Vietnamese, but damn, that's cheap. Can't we get some extra for inflation?
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz
She has a friend named Cece. Reader, I giggled again.
In all seriousness, another cute addition to this series where Vietnamese American Ly-Lan grows up in Texas with American friends. She has a new friend from Vietnam who is helping her with her Vietnamese.
In this installment, most of her classmates have lost teeth and been visited by the Tooth Fairy. Not Ly-Lan. So she tries to get a friend to help her lose it. Spoiler: It doesn't go well.
When she finally loses her tooth biting into a soft mooncake, the Tooth Fairy skips her not once, but twice. Parents and grandparents are acting shady in the background. Obviously, we know why.
And then she only gets $1. I'm Vietnamese, but damn, that's cheap. Can't we get some extra for inflation?
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 stars, personally (but younger readers would probably enjoy it more!) ⭐️ (Light) Christian Fiction - Early Reader Chapter Books
About this book:
“Everyone in Ly-Lan’s class seems to be losing teeth lately, but Ly-Lan only has one that is just a little bit loose. Then she bites into a mooncake that she got from the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it suddenly falls out! When she puts it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy and it’s still there the next day, she declares the Tooth Fairy must be missing. Ly-Lan rallies her friends to help look for the Tooth Fairy, but the adults are less helpful. They keep talking to Ly-Lan about patience and God’s timing. There are more questions than answers in this mysterious case, but Ly-Lan will not rest until she has answers!”
Series: Book #3 in the “Ly-Lan Finds a Way” series. Reviews of Book #1 Here and Book #2 Here!
Spiritual Content- A prayer at bedtime & thanking God; A few talks about God & trusting His timing; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Ly-Lan’s mom tells her that only God knowing why and when things will happen & Ly-Lan asks how to get God to tell her when she’ll loose a tooth (which makes her mom laugh); Later, Ly-Lan tells her best friend what her mom said about trusting God’s timing, but she doesn’t think it’s right and wants to take matters into her own hands about losing a tooth; Three illustrations show that Ly-Lan has a cross on the wall in her bedroom; Mentions of God & trusting His timing; A few mentions of bedtime prayers & praying;
*Note: All about & many mentions of the Tooth Fairy, her magic, getting money from her for teeth, & Ly-Lan believing the Tooth Fairy is missing after she stays up to give her the tooth and the fairy doesn’t come; The Tooth Fairy is called “magical” (twice) and described to look like a fairy with little wings; An illustration shows Ly-Lan thinking of the Tooth Fairy living in a fairy garden and that she gets her money for the teeth she collects from there (and thus Ly-Lan thinking her mom was wrong about money not growing on trees as it does in the Tooth Fairy’s magical garden); Another illustration shows a tooth being the seed of a money tree for the Tooth Fairy; *Spoiler* ; A couple mentions of keeping faith (for the Tooth Fairy to visit); A mention of a mermaid.
Negative Content- Ly-Lan rolls her eyes at a boy and finds him to be sometimes “annoying” (once); Ly-Lan is very concerned when the Tooth Fairy misses collecting her tooth, but her parents assure her that she will come soon; Ly-Lan feels competitive with the smartest boy in her class (over who has lost a baby tooth and the price of it from the Tooth Fairy), so she comes up with a plan to pull her tooth out with the help of her best friend, but her parents tell her that she can’t do that without talking to them about it first; A couple mentions of a lost dog (who was found safe a couple days later).
Sexual Content- N/A.
-Ly-Lan Tran, age 8
P.O.V. of Ly-Lan
96 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
A couple comments felt a little too adult-ish for an eight-year-old to say, but perhaps some kids would say “dental research” or “data collection” in the proper context and have made a chart for classmates who have lost teeth. I can’t quite tell if it’s a little unrealistic or if I’m completely outside of the target age market for this series. 😂 I do like Ly-Lan and her friend group, though, and learning more about Vietnamese culture!
All the tooth fairy stuff had it’s cute parts, but my family didn’t do that when I was growing up, so I think it was a little lost on me, personally. As a note for parents of young readers, there’s no info about the true identity of the Tooth Fairy, but older readers and adults will be able to read between the lines at Ly-Lan’s parents’ reactions to the Tooth Fairy “missing” her tooth.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Zonderkidz) for this honest review.
About this book:
“Everyone in Ly-Lan’s class seems to be losing teeth lately, but Ly-Lan only has one that is just a little bit loose. Then she bites into a mooncake that she got from the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it suddenly falls out! When she puts it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy and it’s still there the next day, she declares the Tooth Fairy must be missing. Ly-Lan rallies her friends to help look for the Tooth Fairy, but the adults are less helpful. They keep talking to Ly-Lan about patience and God’s timing. There are more questions than answers in this mysterious case, but Ly-Lan will not rest until she has answers!”
Series: Book #3 in the “Ly-Lan Finds a Way” series. Reviews of Book #1 Here and Book #2 Here!
Spiritual Content- A prayer at bedtime & thanking God; A few talks about God & trusting His timing; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Ly-Lan’s mom tells her that only God knowing why and when things will happen & Ly-Lan asks how to get God to tell her when she’ll loose a tooth (which makes her mom laugh); Later, Ly-Lan tells her best friend what her mom said about trusting God’s timing, but she doesn’t think it’s right and wants to take matters into her own hands about losing a tooth; Three illustrations show that Ly-Lan has a cross on the wall in her bedroom; Mentions of God & trusting His timing; A few mentions of bedtime prayers & praying;
*Note: All about & many mentions of the Tooth Fairy, her magic, getting money from her for teeth, & Ly-Lan believing the Tooth Fairy is missing after she stays up to give her the tooth and the fairy doesn’t come; The Tooth Fairy is called “magical” (twice) and described to look like a fairy with little wings; An illustration shows Ly-Lan thinking of the Tooth Fairy living in a fairy garden and that she gets her money for the teeth she collects from there (and thus Ly-Lan thinking her mom was wrong about money not growing on trees as it does in the Tooth Fairy’s magical garden); Another illustration shows a tooth being the seed of a money tree for the Tooth Fairy; *Spoiler* ; A couple mentions of keeping faith (for the Tooth Fairy to visit); A mention of a mermaid.
Negative Content- Ly-Lan rolls her eyes at a boy and finds him to be sometimes “annoying” (once); Ly-Lan is very concerned when the Tooth Fairy misses collecting her tooth, but her parents assure her that she will come soon; Ly-Lan feels competitive with the smartest boy in her class (over who has lost a baby tooth and the price of it from the Tooth Fairy), so she comes up with a plan to pull her tooth out with the help of her best friend, but her parents tell her that she can’t do that without talking to them about it first; A couple mentions of a lost dog (who was found safe a couple days later).
Sexual Content- N/A.
-Ly-Lan Tran, age 8
P.O.V. of Ly-Lan
96 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
A couple comments felt a little too adult-ish for an eight-year-old to say, but perhaps some kids would say “dental research” or “data collection” in the proper context and have made a chart for classmates who have lost teeth. I can’t quite tell if it’s a little unrealistic or if I’m completely outside of the target age market for this series. 😂 I do like Ly-Lan and her friend group, though, and learning more about Vietnamese culture!
All the tooth fairy stuff had it’s cute parts, but my family didn’t do that when I was growing up, so I think it was a little lost on me, personally. As a note for parents of young readers, there’s no info about the true identity of the Tooth Fairy, but older readers and adults will be able to read between the lines at Ly-Lan’s parents’ reactions to the Tooth Fairy “missing” her tooth.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Zonderkidz) for this honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My third trip to the world of the very cute, very polite and kind Ly-Lan is much less convoluted than the previous two, but still enjoyable. It helps, too that it's so relatable – I still remember the day I lost a tooth and the relevant fairy never turned up (funnily enough, the following day, when I had told my parents about it, someone then swapped enamel for a 50p). Here, as I say, this is a straightforward drama, compared to the first two – the title is about a missing Tooth Fairy, not a Fairy for teeth that have gone missing. And it's just not turning up to do the deed under Ly-Lan's pillow…
This then proves to be a story of persistence, and hope, and only if you really read between the lines do you see the parents passing the buck as they sorrowfully watch their daughter's disappointment grow. That side of things does make me wonder if this is going to be enough for the young audience, if they don't get the nuance we pick up from how the parents behave. This is more secular than before, as well as more routine, and it's quite surprising how easy it is to guess what is going to happen here, certainly in comparison with previous. But I'll still be giving this four stars, as I once again found Ly-Lan and her friends charming company. All the books have been joyful, cute, heartfelt little adventures, and their fanbase will only grow.
This then proves to be a story of persistence, and hope, and only if you really read between the lines do you see the parents passing the buck as they sorrowfully watch their daughter's disappointment grow. That side of things does make me wonder if this is going to be enough for the young audience, if they don't get the nuance we pick up from how the parents behave. This is more secular than before, as well as more routine, and it's quite surprising how easy it is to guess what is going to happen here, certainly in comparison with previous. But I'll still be giving this four stars, as I once again found Ly-Lan and her friends charming company. All the books have been joyful, cute, heartfelt little adventures, and their fanbase will only grow.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
It's really fun seeing Ly-Lan grow up through this series!
There are some places where the wording is odd and real people just wouldn't speak like that ("Thank you for coming over, BFF" is one), which bothered me a little bit while reading, but might not be as noticeable for a kid. Also, again, this book is Christian and there's talk about "trusting God" when it comes to the timing of your loose tooth falling out, as a note for other potential readers. It didn't BOTHER me, but it is a bit unnecessary and does give the book a pretty Christian vibe, so if you are bothered by that, another book might be a better fit.
I did like the illustrations, and the story itself is also fun! I like the explanations of items of Vietnamese culture that might be less familiar to the general audience, though they break the reading flow a little at times. Same for the explanations Ly-Lan needs for common English proverbs such as "seems fishy" - Ly-Lan is American and had to study Vietnamese with her parents because she couldn't speak more than a few words in the previous book, so it doesn't make much sense that she doesn't know what "seems fishy" means but other kids her age all do.
This story is probably perfectly fine for kids either way, though! It's really only some small things I noticed that bothered me a bit.
It's really fun seeing Ly-Lan grow up through this series!
There are some places where the wording is odd and real people just wouldn't speak like that ("Thank you for coming over, BFF" is one), which bothered me a little bit while reading, but might not be as noticeable for a kid. Also, again, this book is Christian and there's talk about "trusting God" when it comes to the timing of your loose tooth falling out, as a note for other potential readers. It didn't BOTHER me, but it is a bit unnecessary and does give the book a pretty Christian vibe, so if you are bothered by that, another book might be a better fit.
I did like the illustrations, and the story itself is also fun! I like the explanations of items of Vietnamese culture that might be less familiar to the general audience, though they break the reading flow a little at times. Same for the explanations Ly-Lan needs for common English proverbs such as "seems fishy" - Ly-Lan is American and had to study Vietnamese with her parents because she couldn't speak more than a few words in the previous book, so it doesn't make much sense that she doesn't know what "seems fishy" means but other kids her age all do.
This story is probably perfectly fine for kids either way, though! It's really only some small things I noticed that bothered me a bit.
April 21, 2026
This was a great third book in the Ly-Lan series, with a focus on patience, hope, and timing you can't control. Ly-Lan as a character is excitable and passionate and kind, and makes her stories feel more like an adventure than a lesson.
Ly-Lan is Christian and her parents talk to her about God's timing. The story is inclusive of other cultural traditions (i.e. kids discuss the tooth fairy vs. a friend who buries her teeth). The kid characters are portrayed as curious and supportive of different beliefs. I've read all three books in this series and I think it's wonderful for both Christian families, and (because it is not overly preachy and shows how this family's religious views impact their actions) a great window for people who are not Christian but would like their kids to develop empathy for people with different views.
All the Ly-Lan books do a great job of portraying good interpersonal relationships with family, friends, adults, and other kids (even slightly annoying ones). Ly-Lan often "dissects" looks and tone, a great help for kids who are still learning to read body language.
I'm excited to share more of this series with my third graders! Thanks to the publisher for my ARC!
Ly-Lan is Christian and her parents talk to her about God's timing. The story is inclusive of other cultural traditions (i.e. kids discuss the tooth fairy vs. a friend who buries her teeth). The kid characters are portrayed as curious and supportive of different beliefs. I've read all three books in this series and I think it's wonderful for both Christian families, and (because it is not overly preachy and shows how this family's religious views impact their actions) a great window for people who are not Christian but would like their kids to develop empathy for people with different views.
All the Ly-Lan books do a great job of portraying good interpersonal relationships with family, friends, adults, and other kids (even slightly annoying ones). Ly-Lan often "dissects" looks and tone, a great help for kids who are still learning to read body language.
I'm excited to share more of this series with my third graders! Thanks to the publisher for my ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book! I love this series so much. This book especially was great to read aloud with the kids because its got some nods to adult humor in it. LyLan wants to lose a tooth because everyone in her class seems to be losing them. She finally does and then the tooth fair doesn't come. Not once, but TWICE. 2 nights in a row the tooth fairy is MIA so she thinks she's missing and she sets up a search for her. The adults are all giggling in the background and I loved that. It was such a fun time with the girls. My only complaint is that I wish there was a pronunciation guide for the Chinese bits inserted. I love that they're there but I have a hard time reading them aloud without butchering it. I would highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an electronic ARC from Zonderkidz-Books through NetGalley.
Ly-Lan is back for another adventure. This time she wants her loose tooth to come out so she can join the rest of her third grade class on her friend's chart. Readers see her make plans to get the tooth out, and then, when it comes out, disaster strikes when the tooth fairy doesn't come. Her parents encourage her and offer possible reasons why this happened. There is a faith based focus as God's timing is referenced. Her mom also talks to her about being patient. I appreciate the underlying lesson on waiting and being patient while still believing something will happen. Dinh weaves humor with this lesson on patience to move the story forward. Looking forward to the next adventure for Ly-Lan.
Ly-Lan is back for another adventure. This time she wants her loose tooth to come out so she can join the rest of her third grade class on her friend's chart. Readers see her make plans to get the tooth out, and then, when it comes out, disaster strikes when the tooth fairy doesn't come. Her parents encourage her and offer possible reasons why this happened. There is a faith based focus as God's timing is referenced. Her mom also talks to her about being patient. I appreciate the underlying lesson on waiting and being patient while still believing something will happen. Dinh weaves humor with this lesson on patience to move the story forward. Looking forward to the next adventure for Ly-Lan.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC read of Ly-Lan and the Missing Tooth Fairy in return for my honest review and opinion on this book.
I really enjoy the stories of Ly-Lan and her friends and I really enjoyed this read.
When Ly-Lan loses a tooth the tooth fairy goes missing. Her and her friends come up with a plan to find the tooth fairy.
Ly-Lan and her friends adventures are always such a good read and I cant wait till my daughter is a little older so I can purchase these books for her.
I really enjoy the stories of Ly-Lan and her friends and I really enjoyed this read.
When Ly-Lan loses a tooth the tooth fairy goes missing. Her and her friends come up with a plan to find the tooth fairy.
Ly-Lan and her friends adventures are always such a good read and I cant wait till my daughter is a little older so I can purchase these books for her.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 2 June 2026 - publication day!
I thought that this was a fun book to read! The story was well written and it was easy to read and understand.
I loved that the book had a few Vietnamese words in it too and the English translations in the story and at the end.
The illustrations in the book were great and they brought the story to life too.
My daughter enjoyed the book and I loved the message about being patient, working together to solve the mystery and believing.
It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!
I thought that this was a fun book to read! The story was well written and it was easy to read and understand.
I loved that the book had a few Vietnamese words in it too and the English translations in the story and at the end.
The illustrations in the book were great and they brought the story to life too.
My daughter enjoyed the book and I loved the message about being patient, working together to solve the mystery and believing.
It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ly-Lan and the Missing Tooth Fair by Ha Dinh is a wonderfully established children's chapter book about a young girl and her journey through the school system. When Ly-Lan finally loses her tooth, she becomes worried that the Tooth Fairy does not show up. Young readers will love the confusion and anxiety Ly-Lan discovers as she awaits the Tooth Fairy's arrival. Parents will love how the book cleverly encourages children to read more and how the characters delve into a main concern throughout childhood-- awaiting and encouraging the Tooth Fairy to arrive when needed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This heartwarming early reader centers on patience and trust. It is a pleasure to read and the kind of story one remembers. It offers an opportunity for young readers to learn more about waiting, trusting and thriving amid uncertainty.
August 16, 2026
This is my son’s review. 😉 He was a good sport reading a “little kid book”.
July 25, 2026
I hope we get more I the series. This was humorous and takes a universal rite of passage to another level.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews