Tooth Fairy in Training

by Michelle Robinson, Briony May Smith (Illustrator)

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?

A fast-paced, funny and action-packed adventure story, which introduces two tough brave new fairies (and many a ferocious animal!) to the picture book world.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Humor, Animals, Storytime, Fairies

34 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

When I'm not up to my knees in nappies, I write children's books. I also spend a fair amount of time eating chocolate. I try to write funny, read-aloud books that parents will enjoy as much as children - after all, if you have to share the same stories umpteen times, you may as well enjoy them.
I hope you like my books enough to read them umpteen times. Thank you - Michelle.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little fairy named Tate is trained in the proper way to be a Tooth Fairy by her older sister May in this rhyming British picture-book from author Michelle Robinson and illustrator Briony May Smith. Taken on a whirlwind world tour, Tate must obtain the teeth of all manner of creatures, from swimming hippos to lazing seals. But the greatest challenge of all is a little girl named Melissa, who likes to capture fairies and kiss them...

Having enjoyed other picture-books from both Robinson— The Forgetful Knight , Grandmas from Mars —and Smith— Margaret's Unicorn —I expected to find Tooth Fairy in Training quite charming, especially as I have been eagerly anticipating the follow-up from this pair, Witch in Training . Unfortunately, although the story idea was fun, the rhyming text read well enough, and the artwork was delightful—my favorite scenes, visually speaking, were the interior shots of Tate and May's fairy home, inside a tree—something was missing for me with this one. I don't want to overstate the issue—it was still an entertaining little picture-book romp, one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for fairy stories in general, and Tooth Fairy stories in particular—but I just didn't make any kind of connection to it, in the same way that I did with some of Robinson and Smith's other books. Mileage varies, of course, and everyone else online seems to love this one, so I'd say give it a go, if you are in the market for this sort of tale.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a bit odd for me. The concept is kind of a fun twist, that the tooth fairies have to collect the teeth from ALL young creatures, not just young humans. The illustrations are really charming in some ways (love the fairy house!) but then it’s also kind of disturbing how some of the animal babies are so scary for the little tooth fairy in training (the snake opening its mouth to try and eat her, for example) It just seems kind of at odds with the otherwise very cutesy and typically fairy-sweet atmosphere (oh, and all the teeth in jars at the end of the book – just, on a personal level, major EW for me! Though, I get it, they are tooth fairies!). I like that it highlights the little tooth fairy in training’s bravery, but parents of sensitive youngsters might want to preview as the kids may not wish to think of their little tooth fairy being in peril. Also, the rhyme scheme seemed clunky.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pencil illustrations colored digitally combine to create a unique take on the tooth-fairy lore. Follow May and her tooth fairy trainee Tate, as Tate learns that even non-cute animals need the tooth fairy to visit. Animals such as hippos, narwhals, sharks, eels and snakes. This story is told in rhyme.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cheerful, playful book about a little tooth fairy in training. I love the addition of animals - because they of course lose teeth too. It added greatly to the sense of adventure and silliness. The illustrations all have a hint of magic that little kids will adore. One of the best tooth fairy books I've read yet.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tooth Fairy in Training by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Briony May Smith. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2019. $17. ISBN 9781536209396

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A young tooth fairy named Tate is excited to start her training with her older sister May. She is surprised that not all the teeth come from human children. Having almost flown around the whole planet on her first night, her last visit to a human girl unexpectedly proves the most challenging of all.

Told in rhyme, the pictures feature different habitats with baby animals along with the fairies and their glittery pink trail. The author approaches a familiar topic from an original perspective by focusing on Tate’s training and on her unusual clients. If you have young readers that love anything fairy related, this will be a welcomed addition.

P.K. Foster, MLS, elementary school teacher-librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opens with an adorable young fairy who is starting tooth fairy lessons from her older sister. She thinks it will be a piece of cake but little does she know that wild animals lose teeth too! That night she goes collecting teeth from hippos, snakes, crocodiles, kangaroos, and even seals. Her last stop of the night is a young girl named Mellissa but she wakes up! Our young fairy has to act quickly to put her to bed and take the tooth. All tuckered out by her training, the fairy finally falls asleep excited to collect more teeth the next night.
This book was adorable and had me hooked from the first page. The storyline was adorable and well-executed, especially since the whole book rhymes. The illustrations were just gorgeous and intricate. They worked with the story so perfectly and really captivated me. All in all a very good read.
I would recommend this book and would use include it in my classroom in the future. It has such a fun storyline that I think kids would really enjoy especially younger kids who are still curious about people like Santa, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy! I could include this into my curriculum in a rhyming unit since the rhyming structuring is simple. Overall will definitely be purchasing this book in the future.

[Leeanne Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tate is training to become a tooth fairy and her sister May is teaching her. Tonight she is mastering the concept of switching teeth for gold coins while ensuring the owner of the tooth does not wake up. Tate is confident in her ability of completing this task with humans, but her sister informs her that they accept all types of teeth. On her first night as a tooth fairy, Tate visits a hippo, crocodile, anaconda, squids, octopus, shark, eel, and a seal. It's not easy being a tooth fairy but Tate enjoys doing it with her sister.

The illustrations are bright and colorful. The illustrator uses pink to illustrate the flight pattern of the fairies which brings the story to life. I love how the illustrations depict tooth fairies living in forests and the importance on helping family members master their goal. Fairy lovers will enjoy following Tate's adventures.

[Tiffany Dickinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tooth Fairy in Training by Michelle Robinson is surprisingly clever. Briony May Smith's illustrations are both adorable and lush, and the story is more expansive than usual, including non-cuddly animals such as snakes and alligators. It will appeal to the hearts of sensitive, fairy-loving children, as well as the rough-and-tumble dragon-slayer types. The only reason I didn't give the book a 5-star rating was that the rhyme (which started out terrific) gradually became more forced and sometimes not really believable. I think with a good reader (adult), the child listener would not notice this.

[Ersa S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen this book a few times while shelving books at my library and never took the time to read it as I didn't think it would fit in well to be a storytime book, but I am very glad I was wrong.

This book has a wonderful, bouncy, and bright rhyming scheme with glittery illustrations on every page. I loved how the author incorporated animals into the story, because even animals have teeth, and that Tate's biggest challenge was a young girl.

I think my storytime kids will really enjoy this book and check it out on their own as well.

Great, fun read!

[Kalynne]

Date: 06.02.25
Attendees:49
Theme: Teeth

Introduction and announcements: Tickle the Moon

Book one: All the Silly Stuff in my Teeth by Mike Henson

Song/rhyme/game one: Brush Your Teeth by Raffi (Rhythm sticks)

Book two: Alan’s Big Scary Teeth by Jarvis

Song/rhyme/game two: Move by Super Simple Songs

Book three: Tooth Fairy in Training by Michelle Robinson

Song/ rhyme/ game three: I have a little toothbrush-with egg shakers

Announcements: Special Visitor-MCNA Dental

Activity: Tooth Coloring Pages- https://mondaymandala.com/dentist-col...

[Eigo Ehon Navi · Rating 4 out of 5]

日本では、抜けた乳歯を、上の歯の場合には床下に、下の歯の場合には屋根に向かって縁側や窓などから放り投げる風習がありますよね？
私も子供の頃、屋根に向かって投げたり、土に埋めたりしたりした記憶があります。

アメリカ・カナダでは、乳歯が抜けると抜けた歯を枕の下に置いて寝ると、トゥース・フェアリーと呼ばれる妖精が来て、お金と交換してくれるという風習があります。

金額は＄1〜＄10が普通だと思います。アメリカでは＄25とウェブサイトにありましたが、2023年だけど？と思いました。ちなみに、我が家の7歳児はトゥース・フェアリーからは毎回＄5貰ってるようです。旦那にその歯はどうするの？って聞くとゴミ箱に捨てると言っていました（笑）

作家のミシェル・ロビンソンとイラストレーターのブライオニー・メイ・スミスが、2人の勇敢なトゥース・フェアリーの姉妹が訓練をして独り立ちするという可愛らしい妖精物語を紹介します。

[Fantastiske Familie Bøger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bogen handler om den lille Tandfe My og hendes oplæring som tandfe. Det er Mys storesøster Fie som skal lærer My at være en dygtig tandfe. 

Det er ikke let at være tandfe, for både dyrebørn og menneskebørn taber tænder og nogle vil bide, mens andre bare vil give et fe-kys.

Bogen er læst højt for Elisa på 3 år. Oplæser var storesøster Sarah på 9 år. Begge børn kunne lide bogen.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, quick, but not very stand-out story. I picked this up because I’m a huge fan of the illustrator, Briony May Smith. Smith’s illustrations are so warm and soft. I love her distinctive, magical, gentle style! Always a delight to see her art.
Oh! Because they were collecting teeth from all creatures, it did make me wonder a fun question, “who collects the teeth from tooth fairies?”

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Tate is in training to be a tooth fairy, and it can be a hazardous job to do! Her older sister, May, takes her all over the world to collect baby teeth - even of animals! A cute story beautifully illustrated.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A preschool and up book about a big sister teaching her little sister to be a tooth fairy and the array of clients they get.

[Ashley Lavering · Rating 4 out of 5]

My four-year-old and I love this book. It is cute and lyrical. The pictures are cute and well crafted.

[Deidra Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute take on the tooth fairy. I liked the journey around the globe aspect.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute tooth fairy book.

[Sarah Limb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rhyming was a little off but I loved that it included baby animals that lose their teeth and that the fairy has to be trained for job. It was a very cute book!

[Diane Chaniewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet rhyming pattern. (although, wander and anaconda don't fit in my opinion...) beautiful illustrations, as always, by Smith.

[The Reading Writing Puppet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and rhymes a bit. Lovely.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept, amazing illustrations, nice rhyming text, but somehow I just wasn't impressed.

[Lea_ecrit · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'adore l'illustratrice !
Une belle histoire sur le premier périple d'une nouvelle fée des dents

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) Moins convaincue que par la précédente nouveauté de l'illustratrice.

[Mychal Threets · Rating 4 out of 5]

All kids waiting on a wiggling tooth to fall out will probably adore this book 🦷

[Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s cute and rhymes.

[Kelly]

I thought the rhyming was poor and the overall story was poor.

[Jeri Goins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was casually leafing through this new arrival, thinking I knew what it would have in it based on the COVER! It was actually more adventurous than I expected with a wonderful rhyme scheme. Snakes, crocodiles, hippos and more lose their teeth, too, you know!

[Anthony Burt]

What a scrumptious, shiny and fast-paced little picture book this is! With a rather unique take on how tooth fairies do their job, Michelle Robinson takes us on a wild rollercoaster of animals, adventure and fun in this story of Tate, the fairy in training.

Tate is being taught how to take a tooth and leave some money by her sister May and she crosses the whole world in one night doing just that.

There are some lovely, cosy scenes brought to life by Briony May Smith’s gorgeous illustrations, as well as some scary and creepy ones too! And, as this lovely book is written in rhyme it makes it all the more enjoyable for reading aloud to your own little fairy!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are lovely. Tate starts training to be a Tooth Fairy. Her sister, May, teaches her the basics then heads out to get teeth from animals around the world. Tate does fine until her final tooth of the night - a human named Melissa. She has to use her fairy magic to put Melissa back to sleep in order to leave and compete the assignment.
Simple story that shares information about animals losing teeth along with the fun story about tooth fairies.