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The Tale of a Toothbrush
Children use their toothbrush each morning and evening, and get new ones every few months. That’s billions of toothbrushes! What happens to them all when they’re no longer needed? And if toothbrushes take thousands of years to break down, what does that mean for our planet?
With a fun cast of plastic characters, from pirate-ship bottles to dancing shampoos, and even an inquisitive albatross, The Tale of a Toothbrush is a positive and heart-warming story to help children explore the impact their choices have on our planet.
With a fun cast of plastic characters, from pirate-ship bottles to dancing shampoos, and even an inquisitive albatross, The Tale of a Toothbrush is a positive and heart-warming story to help children explore the impact their choices have on our planet.
32 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2020
About the author
M.G. Leonard
77 books325 followersM. G. Leonard is a writer of books, poems and screenplays. She has a first-class honours degree in English literature and an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. She works as a freelance Digital Media Producer for clients such as the National Theatre, and Harry Potter West End, and previously worked as a Senior Digital Producer at the National Theatre, the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe. She spent her early career in the music industry running Setanta Records, an independent record label, and managing bands, most notably The Divine Comedy. After leaving the music industry, she trained as an actor, dabbling in directing and producing as well as performing, before deciding to write her stories down. Maya lives in Brighton with her husband and two sons.
You can visit her online at www.mgleonard.com. Follow her on Twitter @MGLnrd.
You can visit her online at www.mgleonard.com. Follow her on Twitter @MGLnrd.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 22, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Little Sofia has her first toothbrush which she calls Sammy and puts a big S on it. A few months later her mum noticed that the bristles are starting to fray and that Sofia could do with a new brush and so she throws Sammy away. Sofia isn’t happy but Sammy goes on a journey across the world where he meets lots of other rubbish.
He missed Sofia so much that he then tries to find his way home again.
I am normally a big fan of books that spread the message about plastics and how harmful single-use plastic is for the world and so I had high hopes for this book. However, this is more a story of a toothbrush being thrown away, feeling sad, and wanting to return home. I don’t think the message in the book was powerful enough to convey the information on harmful plastics and alternatives, certainly not without a grown-up explaining things to the child reader.
There is a factual information page at the back of the book and the mention of using a bamboo brush instead of a plastic one which was useful, there were also some suggestions on what a used toothbrush could be reused for once it was no longer any good for your teeth, but there are only so many toothbrushes you need to brush a doll’s hair, or clean your boots with, etc. I had thought this was going to be a book showing exactly what happens to the toothbrush and explaining every step and it being left for many, many years in a landfill.
The illustrations were pleasant to look at being bright, colourful, and full-page, though Sofia looks like an old lady to me rather than a young girl.
Overall, if you are after a lovely story about a toothbrush finding its own way back to its original owner then this is a nice tale. If you want a book about plastic waste to share with your child/class then I think this misses the mark.
Little Sofia has her first toothbrush which she calls Sammy and puts a big S on it. A few months later her mum noticed that the bristles are starting to fray and that Sofia could do with a new brush and so she throws Sammy away. Sofia isn’t happy but Sammy goes on a journey across the world where he meets lots of other rubbish.
He missed Sofia so much that he then tries to find his way home again.
I am normally a big fan of books that spread the message about plastics and how harmful single-use plastic is for the world and so I had high hopes for this book. However, this is more a story of a toothbrush being thrown away, feeling sad, and wanting to return home. I don’t think the message in the book was powerful enough to convey the information on harmful plastics and alternatives, certainly not without a grown-up explaining things to the child reader.
There is a factual information page at the back of the book and the mention of using a bamboo brush instead of a plastic one which was useful, there were also some suggestions on what a used toothbrush could be reused for once it was no longer any good for your teeth, but there are only so many toothbrushes you need to brush a doll’s hair, or clean your boots with, etc. I had thought this was going to be a book showing exactly what happens to the toothbrush and explaining every step and it being left for many, many years in a landfill.
The illustrations were pleasant to look at being bright, colourful, and full-page, though Sofia looks like an old lady to me rather than a young girl.
Overall, if you are after a lovely story about a toothbrush finding its own way back to its original owner then this is a nice tale. If you want a book about plastic waste to share with your child/class then I think this misses the mark.
December 10, 2020
An important message to young readers about the use of plastic within our routine; something as simple as a toothbrush (of which we probably get through 3-4 a year, per person) can have a destructive impact upon the oceans and creatures within it. The illustrations are full to the brim with plastic, the narrative is bursting with the serious implications (not always directly, but certainly implied) of various plastic-related bad habits humans have (a plastic bag saying "I was only used once before I was thrown away, for example) and the importance of trying to make the most out of the plastic items we use.
I think the last few pages which gave interesting information and facts about plastic once the story had finished, with some stark figures and some well thought out explanations of how we use plastic were probably the most impactful part, whereas the story itself felt a bit dry.
Regardless, an important message but not necessarily a book I would imagine young children asking to revisit particularly often - so how far is that message really getting?
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
I think the last few pages which gave interesting information and facts about plastic once the story had finished, with some stark figures and some well thought out explanations of how we use plastic were probably the most impactful part, whereas the story itself felt a bit dry.
Regardless, an important message but not necessarily a book I would imagine young children asking to revisit particularly often - so how far is that message really getting?
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2021
This is such a sweet and fun story to help explain the problem with plastics today. Sofia was able to choose her toothbrush and she chose Sammy, a yellow brush. She drew an S on his tummy and enjoyed brushing her teeth with him every day. Sammy is a happy toothbrush until the day when Sofia’s mum throws him away when his bristles get worn out. Sammy ends up travelling a long way, by truck then ship along with all the other rubbish. But Sammy doesn’t want to be all alone and he makes the journey home to Sofia, with a little help from some animals.
The book is a bit bigger, wider, than A4 in size and is filled with lots of glossy and thick pages of colourful illustrations and text. I really have loved the way this story goes and especially the cute illustrations which show Sammy and the other inanimate objects come to life with their facial expressions and words. As Sammy makes his way back to Sofia, via the ocean, he comes across other plastic that’s floating out there. While the story has some fun moments like the pirate ship and the plastic bottle and its companion on the beach who Sammy ends up seeing, the wider story of how plastics end up causing a problem long-term from not breaking down in the oceans and for animals in general is shown well.
The illustrations are really lovely, I adore them so much! Sammy and the other characters, especially the inanimate objects all look so sweet with their faces and lovely smiles. I love how there is lots to see on some of the pages, all the details in the background. I’m not sure I’d have enjoyed this book as much as I have without the fun illustrations, they really make the story so much easier to understand, especially when showing just how much plastic ends up in the oceans and everywhere else.
The story ends well with a happy ending for both Sammy and the upset Sofia, who became upset when Sammy was thrown out. I do like what happens and how the message of recycling, even toothbrushes, is shown although I did feel a bit weird about the fact that nobody mentioned to wash a dirty toothbrush that’s been in the ocean before re-using it in some way. Maybe it’s just my ocd mind 🤪 but I would have liked that message of cleaning objects that ended up in the rubbish to be there too, especially as the point is made that the toothbrush is now dirty. The last page has some interesting facts about the problem with plastic and I love how this book is both a fun read and also so informative too. There are some tips on how toothbrushes can be re-used when they can no longer be used to brush teeth and I especially love these ideas shown in the story as one of them I use myself to create art!
This really is a lovely story and the illustrations really make this all the more wonderful to read. I love Sammy as a character, he’s so sweet and the lovely story of a child enjoying a simple object is one I adored, especially as I remember getting attached to simple things like toothbrushes when I was young. The deeper message about plastic in our oceans is there and it’s a great way to introduce this subject to children. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a fun, sweet and inportant read.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
The book is a bit bigger, wider, than A4 in size and is filled with lots of glossy and thick pages of colourful illustrations and text. I really have loved the way this story goes and especially the cute illustrations which show Sammy and the other inanimate objects come to life with their facial expressions and words. As Sammy makes his way back to Sofia, via the ocean, he comes across other plastic that’s floating out there. While the story has some fun moments like the pirate ship and the plastic bottle and its companion on the beach who Sammy ends up seeing, the wider story of how plastics end up causing a problem long-term from not breaking down in the oceans and for animals in general is shown well.
The illustrations are really lovely, I adore them so much! Sammy and the other characters, especially the inanimate objects all look so sweet with their faces and lovely smiles. I love how there is lots to see on some of the pages, all the details in the background. I’m not sure I’d have enjoyed this book as much as I have without the fun illustrations, they really make the story so much easier to understand, especially when showing just how much plastic ends up in the oceans and everywhere else.
The story ends well with a happy ending for both Sammy and the upset Sofia, who became upset when Sammy was thrown out. I do like what happens and how the message of recycling, even toothbrushes, is shown although I did feel a bit weird about the fact that nobody mentioned to wash a dirty toothbrush that’s been in the ocean before re-using it in some way. Maybe it’s just my ocd mind 🤪 but I would have liked that message of cleaning objects that ended up in the rubbish to be there too, especially as the point is made that the toothbrush is now dirty. The last page has some interesting facts about the problem with plastic and I love how this book is both a fun read and also so informative too. There are some tips on how toothbrushes can be re-used when they can no longer be used to brush teeth and I especially love these ideas shown in the story as one of them I use myself to create art!
This really is a lovely story and the illustrations really make this all the more wonderful to read. I love Sammy as a character, he’s so sweet and the lovely story of a child enjoying a simple object is one I adored, especially as I remember getting attached to simple things like toothbrushes when I was young. The deeper message about plastic in our oceans is there and it’s a great way to introduce this subject to children. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a fun, sweet and inportant read.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
July 17, 2020
Sofia’s toothbrush, Sammy, has served her teeth admirably. Cleaning them everyday before school and every night before bed. But when the bristles have worn away, Sofia’s mum throws Sammy in the bin and he finds himself picked up by the garbage men and thrown into the truck amongst all other sorts of rubbish. But Sammy doesn’t want to be another piece of plastic in the ocean or left ‘forever’ at the rubbish dump. Can Sammy make it back to Sofia?
This is a beautifully illustrated book with a simple narrative that follows the journey of plastic rubbish and the effects that the discarded plastic has on the environment, particularly oceans. Sammy travels across the world - meeting plastic characters that have been discarded and gone on their own journeys that highlight the problem with plastic - on his way to trying to get home to Sofia. It is a lovely introduction to the ‘plastic problem’ and offers suggestions on how to be more environmentally conscious and how to try and repurpose items rather than dispose of them.
Ultimately, it is a sad but accurate depiction of the massive problem with plastic waste in the 21st century. Every child should be given access to this book as it highlights the problems surrounding the use of plastic and the impact that their choices have on the environment.
A lovely double page spread at the back is filled with facts and figures about plastic that will only raise more questions from curious minds and will hope to inspire young children to take action and do their part in looking after our planet.
An entertaining read with a very, very important message.
Recommended for 3+.
This is a beautifully illustrated book with a simple narrative that follows the journey of plastic rubbish and the effects that the discarded plastic has on the environment, particularly oceans. Sammy travels across the world - meeting plastic characters that have been discarded and gone on their own journeys that highlight the problem with plastic - on his way to trying to get home to Sofia. It is a lovely introduction to the ‘plastic problem’ and offers suggestions on how to be more environmentally conscious and how to try and repurpose items rather than dispose of them.
Ultimately, it is a sad but accurate depiction of the massive problem with plastic waste in the 21st century. Every child should be given access to this book as it highlights the problems surrounding the use of plastic and the impact that their choices have on the environment.
A lovely double page spread at the back is filled with facts and figures about plastic that will only raise more questions from curious minds and will hope to inspire young children to take action and do their part in looking after our planet.
An entertaining read with a very, very important message.
Recommended for 3+.
May 18, 2020
When Sofia is allowed to choose a new toothbrush, she picks a sunshine yellow one, names him Sammy and puts an S on the handle. However, one day Sofia’s mum sees the bristles are worn and puts Sammy in the bin. The story follows Sammy’s journey as he’s taken on a ship full of rubbish to a hot place and how he tries to get back to Sofia with the help of a rat, a plastic bottle, some stars and an albatross. When he finally finds his way home and Sofia’s mum says she can’t use him to brush her teeth, Sofia isn’t worried as she has lots of ideas for how he can be useful. This book sends a message about recycling and reuse, highlights the issues around rubbish and the impact on wildlife as well as the environment, all wrapped up within a delightful story. The illustrations are bright, cheerful and amusing – Sammy with his rather funky bristle hairstyle is particularly endearing – and there’s some information at the end of the book about the problems with plastic with the suggestion of using a bamboo toothbrush instead.
Recommended under 5; 5 - 8
Recommended under 5; 5 - 8
March 3, 2022
Wat een positief boek over een serieus onderwerp: de plastic soep.
De tandenborstel van Sofie is versleten. Sofie gooit hem in de prullenbak. Daar kijken we niet meer van op: we gooien elke dag achteloos plastic in de vuilniszak, of zelfs op straat. Maar waar komt het dan terecht?
Daarover gaat het verhaal: de reis van de gele tandenborstel. Hij wil terug naar Sofie, maar dat is nog niet zo makkelijk. Hij moet uit de klauwen blijven van de albatros, uit de bek van een vis, uit de visnetten van een vissersboot.
Maar de tandenborstel is vastbesloten om terug te komen bij Sofie, want met een oude tandenborstel kun je nog heel handige dingen doen: je sportschoenen schoonmaken bijvoorbeeld.
Achterin het boek wordt uitleg gegeven over het probleem met plastic. Erg goed om op deze manier dit onderwerp te bespreken met jonge kinderen. En wat ziet het boek er prachtig uit!
De tandenborstel van Sofie is versleten. Sofie gooit hem in de prullenbak. Daar kijken we niet meer van op: we gooien elke dag achteloos plastic in de vuilniszak, of zelfs op straat. Maar waar komt het dan terecht?
Daarover gaat het verhaal: de reis van de gele tandenborstel. Hij wil terug naar Sofie, maar dat is nog niet zo makkelijk. Hij moet uit de klauwen blijven van de albatros, uit de bek van een vis, uit de visnetten van een vissersboot.
Maar de tandenborstel is vastbesloten om terug te komen bij Sofie, want met een oude tandenborstel kun je nog heel handige dingen doen: je sportschoenen schoonmaken bijvoorbeeld.
Achterin het boek wordt uitleg gegeven over het probleem met plastic. Erg goed om op deze manier dit onderwerp te bespreken met jonge kinderen. En wat ziet het boek er prachtig uit!
July 28, 2022
I really liked the idea of this book.
Sofia loves her toothbrush Sammy, but eventually it gets old and not proper for its main use anymore, so her mother throws it away.
She is devastated and Sammy also misses her very much during its plastic journey. The toothbrush then is determined to find her!
Anyway, Sammy manages to get back to Sofia and it is obviously not used as a toothbrush anymore, but reused as hairbrush for her dolls etc.
It would be way more interesting if when Sammy found Sofia, she would already by an old lady! That would be astonishing! But I believe the story does its job.
Sofia loves her toothbrush Sammy, but eventually it gets old and not proper for its main use anymore, so her mother throws it away.
She is devastated and Sammy also misses her very much during its plastic journey. The toothbrush then is determined to find her!
Anyway, Sammy manages to get back to Sofia and it is obviously not used as a toothbrush anymore, but reused as hairbrush for her dolls etc.
It would be way more interesting if when Sammy found Sofia, she would already by an old lady! That would be astonishing! But I believe the story does its job.
March 16, 2024
Leonard Love #9
Clever tale of toothbrush thrown out which ends at sea, and travels home, to show what happens when we toss the toothbrush out.
It shows other things we can doo with them, but ultimately the use will come to an end, it would have been better if it promoted the bamboo toothbrush!
Clever tale of toothbrush thrown out which ends at sea, and travels home, to show what happens when we toss the toothbrush out.
It shows other things we can doo with them, but ultimately the use will come to an end, it would have been better if it promoted the bamboo toothbrush!
January 28, 2021
I love this story.
It's brilliant for explaining plastic pollution to younger children.
It's brilliant for explaining plastic pollution to younger children.
August 9, 2021
An important message about the use of plastics for young children (2-7 years old). I know I would have loved reading this to my year 1s years ago before I moved higher in the school.
January 5, 2023
A pretty good book on waste and pollution but we preferred Ducks Overboard
March 3, 2024
An interesting book about plastic in the oceans. It is a thought provoking book which leads to interesting questions about the usage of plastic if we do not recycle them.
February 25, 2023
Een prentenboek om het probleem van plastic afval bespreekbaar te maken. Mooi vormgegeven, maar ik denk dat het voor jonge kinderen nog best lastig is inzichtelijk te maken wat de schade van plastic kan zijn. Voor een schoolbrede themaweek zou het een mooie aanvulling zijn!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews