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Dad, Are You The Tooth Fairy?
Is there really a tooth fairy? World-famous actor Jason Alexander (Seinfeld, Pretty Woman, Shallow Hal) weaves a fresh, funny, and magical tale about this age-old question.
When Gaby overhears some older kids on the playground saying that the tooth fairy is just make-believe, he goes straight to his father to find out the truth. The enchanting tale his dad tells him of a time long ago when mysterious and magical creatures lived on the earth will delight and entertain children and adults alike.
For any child who has ever wondered about the existence of the tooth fairy, this original and reassuring story will satisfy their curiosity and give them the power to believe magical things can happen!
When Gaby overhears some older kids on the playground saying that the tooth fairy is just make-believe, he goes straight to his father to find out the truth. The enchanting tale his dad tells him of a time long ago when mysterious and magical creatures lived on the earth will delight and entertain children and adults alike.
For any child who has ever wondered about the existence of the tooth fairy, this original and reassuring story will satisfy their curiosity and give them the power to believe magical things can happen!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 2, 2013
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK to young children unless you want all the magic extinguished from their life.
The author's story describes that all the magical creatures have left the earth never to return and that parents take the teeth and write notes that fairy voices whisper to them. Our tooth fairy only leaves notes in extreme cases (my middle child swallowed a tooth and was afraid that the tooth fairy wouldn't come but she did and left a note reassuring my child that the tooth fairy always knows when a child looses a tooth even if there isn't one under the pillow).
My 8 year old brought this home from the school library and she read it to my 5 year old before I had a chance to review it. I did not realize I needed to sensor books that my child brings home from an elementary school library! I can only hope that they both forget about it. My 5 year old hasn't even had the chance to experience the magic of the tooth fairy yet.
The author's story describes that all the magical creatures have left the earth never to return and that parents take the teeth and write notes that fairy voices whisper to them. Our tooth fairy only leaves notes in extreme cases (my middle child swallowed a tooth and was afraid that the tooth fairy wouldn't come but she did and left a note reassuring my child that the tooth fairy always knows when a child looses a tooth even if there isn't one under the pillow).
My 8 year old brought this home from the school library and she read it to my 5 year old before I had a chance to review it. I did not realize I needed to sensor books that my child brings home from an elementary school library! I can only hope that they both forget about it. My 5 year old hasn't even had the chance to experience the magic of the tooth fairy yet.
January 12, 2018
I'll trade you my tooth envelope for your Elf on the Shelf.
No, no, no, no. No. No. This is like "Elf on the Shelf" bad without the commercialization. Actually, no, there is commercialization if you read the author's note at the end.
So this little boy, Gabi, has a loose tooth. Whenever he loses a tooth, he puts it in a special envelope from his parents under his pillow (envelopes which you can buy from the website at the end of the book!) and the next morning he gets a letter from Gwyneth, who is his "personal tooth fairy" and always says things like, "You're a amazing person! I love your teeth! They're great!" And leaves him a silver dollar and a penny. He even keeps the notes, so it's a meaningful ritual to him. As he gets older, he overhears kids talking about how fairy tales aren't real, like Goldilocks and Rumpelstiltskin (jeez, I hope my children don't end up thinking those are actual real stories) and then the Easter Bunny isn't real and the Tooth Fairy isn't real, that it's moms and dads who tiptoe into your room, throw away your old teeth, and leave behind a gift. So he gets upset and goes to his dad and says, "I need you to tell me the truth. Is there really a tooth fairy named Gwyneth who comes and takes my teeth, or is it you?" And then his dad sits him down and says, "Okay, this is the most honest answer I can give you. A long time ago, there were dinosaurs and mastodons and dodo birds and they're all gone." Up until this point, the book is fine, and then it takes a sharp left turn into Malarkeyville and says, "There were also unicorns, minotaurs, mermaids, dragons, wizards, trolls, and elves. And there were fairies. There were so many fairies. There were fairies all over the place. But because of technology, magic went away, and all the magical creatures went away and the last to go were the fairies who maybe went to uncharted islands, the stars, or the moon. We don't know where they are, but they're not here. So all the children were very sad because the fairies were leaving and they missed them (and the gifts that they left) so the last fairy to go says, "You're never gonna see us again, but if you listen you might be able to hear our voices. A quote from the book: "From this day forth, your parents must take the teeth from beneath your pillows. Then they will sit in a quiet place with a pencil in their hands. They'll close their eyes and soon they'll hear a voice inside their heads. The voice will tell them what to write and what treasures to exchange. And as long as their children believe in this magic, then so long will we fairies keep speaking. And you shall have our words and our little gifts of love." And then the question is raised, "Is it really fairies or our parents' imagination?" And then the fairy says, "Nobody will know. You just have to trust that it's really the fairy."
So the father tells the son, "Okay, I'm the one that takes the envelope, but I sit and I meditate and I hear the voice of a fairy talking to me and I write down what it says and whether or not the voice is actually the fairy or if it's my own imagination is up to you." And then Gabi says, "You know what, I don't know, but I'm gonna believe that it's true." And then the next day his loose tooth falls out and he gets a letter which says, "I have given you many gifts. But you have given yourself the greatest gift of all--possibilities. May magic fill your life. Your world will never be ordinary, for you have chosen to live by your heart." And then he's happy and his little brother loses his first loose tooth.
At the end, there's a note from the author that says this is all true. His son's name is Gabriel. Gabi is the author's own son (although the dad depicted in this book looks nothing like the author, actor Jason Alexander). So that's what he told his son when his son asked. It says down at the bottom, "The tooth fairy envelope depicted in the book is a replica of the one my family actually uses. They were created by my friend Greg Leonard. You may order them at the following website." So it is kind of selling something. It's selling a tradition, a tradition of writing letters as if you were a tooth fairy. The envelopes aren't made by him, exactly, they're his friend's, but still. Okay, I get that your family has a weird story and tradition. My family certainly didn't do this. My family didn't leave notes from the Tooth Fairy under my pillow. I didn't have to put anything in a special envelope. My guess is my parents were probably too unsure about their ability to get in and out without waking me up, so they just had me leave my tooth in a glass of water in the kitchen, and then the next day the tooth was gone from the glass of water but, poof, there was a dime in there. It was no full-on letter and no meditation by the parents on this. It's just ridiculous.
This is not a good story for kids. It's not good for kids to believe that a long time ago there was magic in the world. That's not true. We understand the world so much. I mean, there's a lot that we don't know, but there's so much that we do, and that's one of the things that we do: you can't break the laws of physics. Fairies never actually did exist. I'm sorry, they didn't. If they did, they would have left fossils. And also, if they existed at the same time as people, then we would have like tons of literary historical evidence of this and it would be incredibly consistent. This isn't like religious figure type stuff, this is superstition type stuff. I mean yes, there are stories of leprechauns and gnomes and stuff, but modern people don't actually believe that once upon a time there were leprechauns but there aren't anymore. No reasonable adult believes that, and trying to convince your child that it's true is a bad idea. It only leaves him open to abuse by unscrupulous people who will take advantage of his naivete. That's how that works.
Message: Fairies are real. At least, they were real, but technology is evil so they're gone now.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
No, no, no, no. No. No. This is like "Elf on the Shelf" bad without the commercialization. Actually, no, there is commercialization if you read the author's note at the end.
So this little boy, Gabi, has a loose tooth. Whenever he loses a tooth, he puts it in a special envelope from his parents under his pillow (envelopes which you can buy from the website at the end of the book!) and the next morning he gets a letter from Gwyneth, who is his "personal tooth fairy" and always says things like, "You're a amazing person! I love your teeth! They're great!" And leaves him a silver dollar and a penny. He even keeps the notes, so it's a meaningful ritual to him. As he gets older, he overhears kids talking about how fairy tales aren't real, like Goldilocks and Rumpelstiltskin (jeez, I hope my children don't end up thinking those are actual real stories) and then the Easter Bunny isn't real and the Tooth Fairy isn't real, that it's moms and dads who tiptoe into your room, throw away your old teeth, and leave behind a gift. So he gets upset and goes to his dad and says, "I need you to tell me the truth. Is there really a tooth fairy named Gwyneth who comes and takes my teeth, or is it you?" And then his dad sits him down and says, "Okay, this is the most honest answer I can give you. A long time ago, there were dinosaurs and mastodons and dodo birds and they're all gone." Up until this point, the book is fine, and then it takes a sharp left turn into Malarkeyville and says, "There were also unicorns, minotaurs, mermaids, dragons, wizards, trolls, and elves. And there were fairies. There were so many fairies. There were fairies all over the place. But because of technology, magic went away, and all the magical creatures went away and the last to go were the fairies who maybe went to uncharted islands, the stars, or the moon. We don't know where they are, but they're not here. So all the children were very sad because the fairies were leaving and they missed them (and the gifts that they left) so the last fairy to go says, "You're never gonna see us again, but if you listen you might be able to hear our voices. A quote from the book: "From this day forth, your parents must take the teeth from beneath your pillows. Then they will sit in a quiet place with a pencil in their hands. They'll close their eyes and soon they'll hear a voice inside their heads. The voice will tell them what to write and what treasures to exchange. And as long as their children believe in this magic, then so long will we fairies keep speaking. And you shall have our words and our little gifts of love." And then the question is raised, "Is it really fairies or our parents' imagination?" And then the fairy says, "Nobody will know. You just have to trust that it's really the fairy."
So the father tells the son, "Okay, I'm the one that takes the envelope, but I sit and I meditate and I hear the voice of a fairy talking to me and I write down what it says and whether or not the voice is actually the fairy or if it's my own imagination is up to you." And then Gabi says, "You know what, I don't know, but I'm gonna believe that it's true." And then the next day his loose tooth falls out and he gets a letter which says, "I have given you many gifts. But you have given yourself the greatest gift of all--possibilities. May magic fill your life. Your world will never be ordinary, for you have chosen to live by your heart." And then he's happy and his little brother loses his first loose tooth.
At the end, there's a note from the author that says this is all true. His son's name is Gabriel. Gabi is the author's own son (although the dad depicted in this book looks nothing like the author, actor Jason Alexander). So that's what he told his son when his son asked. It says down at the bottom, "The tooth fairy envelope depicted in the book is a replica of the one my family actually uses. They were created by my friend Greg Leonard. You may order them at the following website." So it is kind of selling something. It's selling a tradition, a tradition of writing letters as if you were a tooth fairy. The envelopes aren't made by him, exactly, they're his friend's, but still. Okay, I get that your family has a weird story and tradition. My family certainly didn't do this. My family didn't leave notes from the Tooth Fairy under my pillow. I didn't have to put anything in a special envelope. My guess is my parents were probably too unsure about their ability to get in and out without waking me up, so they just had me leave my tooth in a glass of water in the kitchen, and then the next day the tooth was gone from the glass of water but, poof, there was a dime in there. It was no full-on letter and no meditation by the parents on this. It's just ridiculous.
This is not a good story for kids. It's not good for kids to believe that a long time ago there was magic in the world. That's not true. We understand the world so much. I mean, there's a lot that we don't know, but there's so much that we do, and that's one of the things that we do: you can't break the laws of physics. Fairies never actually did exist. I'm sorry, they didn't. If they did, they would have left fossils. And also, if they existed at the same time as people, then we would have like tons of literary historical evidence of this and it would be incredibly consistent. This isn't like religious figure type stuff, this is superstition type stuff. I mean yes, there are stories of leprechauns and gnomes and stuff, but modern people don't actually believe that once upon a time there were leprechauns but there aren't anymore. No reasonable adult believes that, and trying to convince your child that it's true is a bad idea. It only leaves him open to abuse by unscrupulous people who will take advantage of his naivete. That's how that works.
Message: Fairies are real. At least, they were real, but technology is evil so they're gone now.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
March 28, 2014
The cool thing about this book - and the author explains it at the end - is that he is honest in answering the child's question, but he's not brutally honest. In other words, he doesn't hinder the child's ability to hope for possibilities. It's a great lesson for parents in how to handle difficult questions resulting from the juxtaposition of truth vs. honestly answering a child's sincere questions.
December 3, 2021
I actually really enjoyed this book.
I don't recall if I ever believed in the tooth fairy. I got money from putting teeth under my pillow, but I don't recall if I knew if it was my parents or not. That was quite a while ago. But I do know that we were never taught about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny...maybe that's why I've always been attracted to fantasy books...
But I think there's something to be said for raising your child without these kinds of things, I have been accused of living in a fantasy world because everything I read at the time was fantasy. I thought, even then, what a ridiculous accusation that was. It didn't even require me to defend against it because it was so ludicrous. Of course I didn't live in a fantasy world, obviously, that's why I read fantasy, because I could clearly see what reality was and what fantasy was. If you live in a fantasy world, you don't need to read it, you already create it yourself and are self-sufficient in producing your madness. It is those that are aware of what reality is that choose to take breaks from it occasionally. I love to read because it means I can go into someone else's mind for a bit. It means I can learn to empathize with someone else for a short time, that I do not have to exist with only my own thoughts for company.
I thought this book was good because it at least explored the issue of cultural myths. I don't really like the author's answer, and I think a family might be better off not embroiling themselves in the controversy of being caught in a lie to their children, however innocent a lie it might be, but I do appreciate that he thought about it and explored it. I also don't understand those that insist that Santa clause must be taught to children otherwise they will never experience imagination....That...is just the stupidest idea I have ever heard. Every time a child reads or plays or tells a story, they are using their imagination. Every time they create an alternate ending for their favorite movie, or predict what will happen in the next episode of their cartoon, or look forward to a new game, they are imagining. The position that you are stealing something from your child by not telling them about Santa Clause is just untenable.
Anyway, rather far afield from the content of this book.
Story: Narrative/Philosophical
Art: Meh
Price: $16.95
I don't recall if I ever believed in the tooth fairy. I got money from putting teeth under my pillow, but I don't recall if I knew if it was my parents or not. That was quite a while ago. But I do know that we were never taught about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny...maybe that's why I've always been attracted to fantasy books...
But I think there's something to be said for raising your child without these kinds of things, I have been accused of living in a fantasy world because everything I read at the time was fantasy. I thought, even then, what a ridiculous accusation that was. It didn't even require me to defend against it because it was so ludicrous. Of course I didn't live in a fantasy world, obviously, that's why I read fantasy, because I could clearly see what reality was and what fantasy was. If you live in a fantasy world, you don't need to read it, you already create it yourself and are self-sufficient in producing your madness. It is those that are aware of what reality is that choose to take breaks from it occasionally. I love to read because it means I can go into someone else's mind for a bit. It means I can learn to empathize with someone else for a short time, that I do not have to exist with only my own thoughts for company.
I thought this book was good because it at least explored the issue of cultural myths. I don't really like the author's answer, and I think a family might be better off not embroiling themselves in the controversy of being caught in a lie to their children, however innocent a lie it might be, but I do appreciate that he thought about it and explored it. I also don't understand those that insist that Santa clause must be taught to children otherwise they will never experience imagination....That...is just the stupidest idea I have ever heard. Every time a child reads or plays or tells a story, they are using their imagination. Every time they create an alternate ending for their favorite movie, or predict what will happen in the next episode of their cartoon, or look forward to a new game, they are imagining. The position that you are stealing something from your child by not telling them about Santa Clause is just untenable.
Anyway, rather far afield from the content of this book.
Story: Narrative/Philosophical
Art: Meh
Price: $16.95
June 16, 2018
This came through the used bookstore where I work. Seinfeld is my happy place so yada yada yada I had to take a look. The illustrations are lovely, the story simple and pleasant. A fun book from a fun author.
January 17, 2020
Read this book because I had heard a parent at a school and expressed concern over it... I read it and only concern I could possibly would see would be how the father dealt with the little boy in the story questioning the existence of the tooth fair (and other childhood creatures of make-believe).
October 2, 2017
This book was not what I expected. However, I was happily surprised. The explanation that, Yes, Dad is the tooth fairy takes a different story than any I've heard before.
February 21, 2019
Unique and an argument that actually holds up and opens kids' minds up to the modern fairy tales! I love it and plan to do much the same for my son when he starts to lose teeth!
February 16, 2013
This children's book is about a little boy named Gaby who is curious about whether his dad is the tooth fairy or not. When Gaby asks his dad for the truth about tooth fairy's; his dad goes on to tell him that one day all the magical creatures of this world had to disappear, but the tooth fairy left behind one last thought for a child. The tooth fairy tells the parents what to do with the tooth and tell them what to give each child for his/her tooth, yet the parents will not know that they are being told this. At the end, Gaby is happy to know that he still has a friend in a tooth fairy and chooses to believe in his. The illustrations in this book were outstanding. They were really detailed in the descriptions of each magical creature and made us feel as if we were actually in the story.
I personally wasn't a fan of this book because it could ruin some children's beliefs too soon. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to believe in all the magical things that we, as adults, do not believe. I can relate to this by seeing this first hand. When I was in the classroom last semester, I had a first grader tell another first grader that Santa Claus wasn't real. The first grader then in turn started crying. I had to comfort the student and tell her that every believes in different things and if you believe in Santa Claus and you know that he is real then that's all that matters. I had to take the other student aside, the one that told the other student that Santa wasn't real, and tell him that if you believe that then that is okay, but he should start telling other kids that for no reason just to make them cry. It was my first encounter with that kind of situation and I thought I handled it pretty well.
I can make a classroom connection with this by reading this to the older grades, maybe fourth grade when they are slowly starting to understand what is going on. I would first send a note home saying that I will be readying this book and tell the parents what the book is about. I would go on saying that I want to teach a lesson on dental hygiene and the proper way to take care of your teeth. I want to show them how to properly brush their teeth and the amount of time they would have to spend brushing them. I would also have a dental hygienist come in and give a demonstration on a model of teeth. I think this will give students the hands on experience that each one of them will need later down the road to keep a strong and healthy smile!
The Lexile for this book is AD740L and the Guided Reading is P. I would expect students in the fourth grade to be able to understand and start reading this book. I wouldn't show them this book until I know they are ready to handle what may await them in the story.
I personally wasn't a fan of this book because it could ruin some children's beliefs too soon. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to believe in all the magical things that we, as adults, do not believe. I can relate to this by seeing this first hand. When I was in the classroom last semester, I had a first grader tell another first grader that Santa Claus wasn't real. The first grader then in turn started crying. I had to comfort the student and tell her that every believes in different things and if you believe in Santa Claus and you know that he is real then that's all that matters. I had to take the other student aside, the one that told the other student that Santa wasn't real, and tell him that if you believe that then that is okay, but he should start telling other kids that for no reason just to make them cry. It was my first encounter with that kind of situation and I thought I handled it pretty well.
I can make a classroom connection with this by reading this to the older grades, maybe fourth grade when they are slowly starting to understand what is going on. I would first send a note home saying that I will be readying this book and tell the parents what the book is about. I would go on saying that I want to teach a lesson on dental hygiene and the proper way to take care of your teeth. I want to show them how to properly brush their teeth and the amount of time they would have to spend brushing them. I would also have a dental hygienist come in and give a demonstration on a model of teeth. I think this will give students the hands on experience that each one of them will need later down the road to keep a strong and healthy smile!
The Lexile for this book is AD740L and the Guided Reading is P. I would expect students in the fourth grade to be able to understand and start reading this book. I wouldn't show them this book until I know they are ready to handle what may await them in the story.
November 4, 2012
Reviewed by Me for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com
Ever since young Gaby lost his first tooth, the same ritual has happened--he leaves his tooth in a special envelope under his pillow, and receives three things in return: a silver dollar, a bright shiny penny, and a letter from Gwyneth, his personal tooth fairy.
But when Gaby hears, as children do, that the tooth fairy is none other than his parents, he goes directly to his father for an honest answer. His dad goes on to tell him the story of fairies, and how they had to leave the Earth when people stopped believing in them. Their voice, he says, is what guides the gifts and letter that his father leaves.
I loved this book. Besides being beautifully illustrated, I truly enjoyed the story of magical beings and life that the author desribes. I only offer one word of caution. My children are at the age where one wholeheartedly believes in the tooth fairy, and the other still wants to believe. Unless you want a lot of questions--and probably some tears when the truth is discovered--you might do well to stress to your kids that this is a work of fiction. I, for one, still want my children to carry that hope of magic.
Ever since young Gaby lost his first tooth, the same ritual has happened--he leaves his tooth in a special envelope under his pillow, and receives three things in return: a silver dollar, a bright shiny penny, and a letter from Gwyneth, his personal tooth fairy.
But when Gaby hears, as children do, that the tooth fairy is none other than his parents, he goes directly to his father for an honest answer. His dad goes on to tell him the story of fairies, and how they had to leave the Earth when people stopped believing in them. Their voice, he says, is what guides the gifts and letter that his father leaves.
I loved this book. Besides being beautifully illustrated, I truly enjoyed the story of magical beings and life that the author desribes. I only offer one word of caution. My children are at the age where one wholeheartedly believes in the tooth fairy, and the other still wants to believe. Unless you want a lot of questions--and probably some tears when the truth is discovered--you might do well to stress to your kids that this is a work of fiction. I, for one, still want my children to carry that hope of magic.
April 26, 2013
I liked how this book shows the various parental roles. It is great for a class because in a group of 20 or more students, there are so many different parental situations. It can increase conversation and activities and bring different students together who may not have thought they had something in common. I liked that it was about a tooth fairy as well, my parents always switched off that role but it varies in every household!
September 24, 2013
I really liked this book, especially the pictures! The pictures were drawn very well with lots of detail. I think this is a good book because a lot of children question whether the tooth fairy is real or not and reading this would explain a cute way about if the tooth fairy is real or not. It always would make them feel not alone since the Gabby questions whether his dad is the tooth fairy or not.
October 17, 2013
This story was a delightful surprise. With colorful, vibrant pictures it depicts a family tooth fairy tradition and a father's response to an older child's doubts. I love Jason Alexander's response which is as honest as it it can be, allowing for magic, and lets a child continue to believe without feeling fooled. The author's note includes how to obtain fairy envelopes like those in the story if you would like to start a tradition of your own.
April 11, 2011
I liked that this story was very realistic because alot of kids believe in alot of things until they come to school and other kids kill their dreams. I think that when chldren have a very active imagiantion like this nobody should ever ruin it. Good for upper grades because younger kids may still believe in the tooth fairy and may go home and ask their parents about fairy tales werent true.
Read
April 27, 2013This is a picture book about a man who plays the role of the tooth fairy for his son. His son hears rumors that the tooth fairy isn't true so the father needs to explain to him the story behind all tooth fairies. He explains that many years ago they existed but died out because of lack of belief. Now, the father must play the role of the tooth fairy.
August 4, 2009
Sheesh! I am always skeptical about books by tv and movie stars. This one was a disappointment. The art was nice, but the writing was far too earnest and... Well, it was just kind of icky. It bombed with Sloane, too.
April 3, 2011
This book does a good job in explaining the truthful behind the tooth fairy. I warn anyone who does use this book make sure preview it first and really decide when they feel it is appropriate to use for their child. I would not use this right away within the classroom.
April 3, 2011
This is a great book for students who come into the classroom wondering about who the toothfairy really is. As educators, these questions will arise and what better way to answer such questions than with a book that they can enojoy.
April 3, 2014
Expected something goofy and pleasantly surprised. There is always that point in childhood when the magic starts to slip away. But, from Tinkerbelle to Harry Potter, you can still believe in magic and I think this book explained it well.
September 20, 2007
this book inspired me to hold on to the small hopes of my heart :)
May 28, 2009
I liked it when he was thinking about what it will be like when he get older.
May 27, 2009
Overall a nice story revolving around a question that I'm sure most parents find difficult. Love the illustrated depictions of all the extra creatures.
Read
June 2, 2009JEPIC-Ale
August 31, 2009
This book is very interesting book all about the tooth fairy, but we don't know if there is a tooth fairy or not. You'll have to read it and find out for yourself!
August 31, 2009
what a fantastic book but we don't know if there is a toothfairy!!!!!!
August 31, 2009
It is very interesting.When the tooth fell you put it under your pillow you will get money.I dont now if its real or not
September 1, 2009
this book is fantastic book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 9, 2010
I really liked this book, but it is not a class book. It reveals that there is not tooth fairy, but it does leave hope in faith in your own beliefs.
February 14, 2012
I sweet answer to a vexing question. Nicely illustrated.
February 10, 2013
Level 4
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