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The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez
The Tooth Fairy has some competition.
Meet El Ratón Pérez, the charming and adventurous mouse who collects children’s teeth in Spain and Latin America.
When both the Tooth Fairy and El Ratón Pérez arrive to claim Miguelito’s tooth, sparks fly under the Mexican-American boy’s pillow. Who will rightfully claim his tooth?
This magical tale introduces a legendary Latino character to a new audience and provides a fresh take on the familiar
childhood experience of losing one’s tooth.
Meet El Ratón Pérez, the charming and adventurous mouse who collects children’s teeth in Spain and Latin America.
When both the Tooth Fairy and El Ratón Pérez arrive to claim Miguelito’s tooth, sparks fly under the Mexican-American boy’s pillow. Who will rightfully claim his tooth?
This magical tale introduces a legendary Latino character to a new audience and provides a fresh take on the familiar
childhood experience of losing one’s tooth.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2010
About the author
Rene Colato Lainez
31 books32 followersRené Colato Laínez is the Salvadoran award winning author of I Am René, the Boy/ Soy René, el niño, Waiting for Papá/ Esperando a Papá, and Playing Lotería/ El juego de la lotería. His picture books have been honored by the Latino Book Award, the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, the California Collection for Elementary Readers, the Tejas Star Book Award Selection and the New Mexico Book Award. He was named “Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch (and Read)” by latinostories.com. René is a graduate of the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults.
His goal as a writer is to produce good multicultural children's literature; stories where minority children are portrayed in a positive way, where they can see themselves as heroes, and where they can dream and have hopes for the future. He wants to write authentic stories of Latin American children living in the United States.
His goal as a writer is to produce good multicultural children's literature; stories where minority children are portrayed in a positive way, where they can see themselves as heroes, and where they can dream and have hopes for the future. He wants to write authentic stories of Latin American children living in the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 7, 2009
If you are a Mexican-American kid with a tooth under your pillow, who comes to get it - El Raton, the mouse who collects dientes in Spain and Latin America, or the Tooth Fairy, from the old English tradition? After an initial tussle, El Raton and the Tooth Fairy discover they need to cooperate to get Miquelito's tooth. An author's note, backgrounder and list of Spanish terms used in the book are included. Lintern's pencil and Photoshop illustrations are brimming with fun details.
March 10, 2010
This has been my kindergartner and 3rd grader's favorite picture book of the year. They love the way Rene Colato Lainez mixes the two cultural traditions. They love the humor. They love the artwork and will go into detail about why they think the art is so good (shadows, night time drawings, humor). Two big thumbs up from my children!
May 11, 2010
Perfect introduction to one aspect of America's melting pot culture. I loved reading it to my kids and explaining about how different people around the world have different customs and traditions. I also liked how the two characters, although opposed to each others motives initially, learned to work together and accomplish both goals.
March 30, 2011
I love discovering books that tie our son's two cultural backgrounds together and make his experience relevant. Fun pictures and a cute story that combines the tooth fairy of my childhood with El Raton Perez of his father's.
April 6, 2010
Always good to get a decent tooth fairy book. And a wonderful book for cross-cultural units.
April 24, 2010
I love the mix of spanish and english words in a fairy tale about the different traditions of the tooth fairy in the United States/Spanish/European countries.
April 27, 2010
Just nominated this title to the Texas Library Association 2x2 list. Great story. I had no idea this other tradition existed. Charming.
May 4, 2026
Do you remember losing your first tooth? There is always much excitement when that loose tooth finally falls out. As a child, I would put my tooth under my pillow, and in the morning, I would find money from the tooth fairy. About a year ago, I learned that other countries have their own legends about the tooth fairy, and in Latin America, they have a mouse named El Raton Perez. Rene Colato Lainez wrote a book called The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez, and it tells the story of how the tooth fairy and El Raton Perez work together. Through this book, I learned of the legend of El Raton Perez in more detail, and that much of Europe also has the tradition of a mouse taking the old baby teeth of children.
The story begins with the tooth fairy and El Raton Parez both receiving the signal that a new tooth has come out. Miguelito, the lucky little boy, lives in the United States, and his parents are from Latin America. It is at the foot of his bed that the tooth fairy and El Raton Perez meet for the first time. They are both surprised, and the fairy explains that she collects children's teeth in the United States, and Raton says, while this is true, Miguelito’s teeth belong to him because he collected his parents' and grandparents' teeth. They begin to fight over the tooth, and it falls between two books, where neither of them can reach it on their own. Together, they climb the bookshelf, and Raton squeezes between the books and retrieves the tooth. The tooth fairy agrees to allow Raton to keep the tooth for the rocket ship he is building to reach the moon. Raton promises that he will give her the tooth once he has accomplished his moon mission, so she can build a beautiful castle. In the morning, Miguelito awakens to find money and a note signed by both the Tooth Fairy and El Raton Perez.
The first major theme of this book is collaboration. An example of this is when the Tooth Fairy and Raton work together to recover the tooth, and she allows him to keep it to build his rocket ship. The second theme is tradition. Miguelito is growing up in the United States, but his whole family is from Latin America. While he is growing up in another country, the traditions of his parents are important. The Tooth Fairy allowing Raton to keep the tooth demonstrated her respect for Miguelito’s family traditions.
The genre of this book is fantasy. While both legends come from oral tradition, the author brought them together in a fanciful way. This was a WOW book for me because it tells the story of the Tooth Fairy and El Raton Perez in such a creative way. Throughout the whole book, I wanted to know what would happen next.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this
book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of anthropomorphism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when El Raton Perez speaks and expresses emotions with human characteristics. This writing craft technique enhanced the book's quality by making the character relatable and his interactions more comical. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of dynamic character. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author shows how they both change in an important way once the tooth is out of reach and they have to work together. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by demonstrating that, despite conflicting interests, common ground can be reached.
The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by bringing together two fairy tales from different cultures. The ability of the two main characters to bridge their difference despite coming from different backgrounds shows an anti-bias perspective.
The story begins with the tooth fairy and El Raton Parez both receiving the signal that a new tooth has come out. Miguelito, the lucky little boy, lives in the United States, and his parents are from Latin America. It is at the foot of his bed that the tooth fairy and El Raton Perez meet for the first time. They are both surprised, and the fairy explains that she collects children's teeth in the United States, and Raton says, while this is true, Miguelito’s teeth belong to him because he collected his parents' and grandparents' teeth. They begin to fight over the tooth, and it falls between two books, where neither of them can reach it on their own. Together, they climb the bookshelf, and Raton squeezes between the books and retrieves the tooth. The tooth fairy agrees to allow Raton to keep the tooth for the rocket ship he is building to reach the moon. Raton promises that he will give her the tooth once he has accomplished his moon mission, so she can build a beautiful castle. In the morning, Miguelito awakens to find money and a note signed by both the Tooth Fairy and El Raton Perez.
The first major theme of this book is collaboration. An example of this is when the Tooth Fairy and Raton work together to recover the tooth, and she allows him to keep it to build his rocket ship. The second theme is tradition. Miguelito is growing up in the United States, but his whole family is from Latin America. While he is growing up in another country, the traditions of his parents are important. The Tooth Fairy allowing Raton to keep the tooth demonstrated her respect for Miguelito’s family traditions.
The genre of this book is fantasy. While both legends come from oral tradition, the author brought them together in a fanciful way. This was a WOW book for me because it tells the story of the Tooth Fairy and El Raton Perez in such a creative way. Throughout the whole book, I wanted to know what would happen next.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this
book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of anthropomorphism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when El Raton Perez speaks and expresses emotions with human characteristics. This writing craft technique enhanced the book's quality by making the character relatable and his interactions more comical. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of dynamic character. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author shows how they both change in an important way once the tooth is out of reach and they have to work together. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by demonstrating that, despite conflicting interests, common ground can be reached.
The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by bringing together two fairy tales from different cultures. The ability of the two main characters to bridge their difference despite coming from different backgrounds shows an anti-bias perspective.
May 17, 2020
Sweet illustrations and a cute story about two cultural “icons” working together to collect a lost tooth. Being part of a bicultural-bilingual, Mexican and American family, I appreciate any story that meshes 2 traditions, especially if done in a cute way. I liked the little information blurb at the back with the origin of the 2 traditions. I liked this interchange to reflect 2 cultures and it accurately shows the conversation exchanges between my husband and I on so many different topics regarding our own memory of childhood traditions and what we should do with our kids.
The Tooth Fairy smiled, shaking her wand. “I am the Tooth Fairy, and here is the United States, I collect children’s teeth.” She tugged at the tooth. “No, no, no,” said El Ratón Pérez tugging back. “This is Miguelito’s house, and I collected his papás, mamás, and his abuelitos teeth. Miguelito’s tooth is mine.” (My only complaint on that is in the book they have apostrophes which I’m sure is to symbolize the Spanglish but I’m not a fan... papá’s and mamá’s just looks weird)
The Tooth Fairy smiled, shaking her wand. “I am the Tooth Fairy, and here is the United States, I collect children’s teeth.” She tugged at the tooth. “No, no, no,” said El Ratón Pérez tugging back. “This is Miguelito’s house, and I collected his papás, mamás, and his abuelitos teeth. Miguelito’s tooth is mine.” (My only complaint on that is in the book they have apostrophes which I’m sure is to symbolize the Spanglish but I’m not a fan... papá’s and mamá’s just looks weird)
October 2, 2020
Cute story about the Tooth Fairy and El Raton Perez fighting over a tooth (the problem is that the boy who lost the tooth is in the US, where the Tooth Fairy reigns, but El Raton Perez calls rights because he has collected teeth from the boy's parents and grandparents).
In the fight, the tooth gets temporarily lost and is in a place where the two have to work together to get it.
The stories about what each DOES with the teeth are pretty silly. I don't know that I'd ever read what the tooth fairy does with them?
Nice cultural notes in the back.
Spanish words and phrases sprinkled throughout in a way that's pretty easy to understand.
In the fight, the tooth gets temporarily lost and is in a place where the two have to work together to get it.
The stories about what each DOES with the teeth are pretty silly. I don't know that I'd ever read what the tooth fairy does with them?
Nice cultural notes in the back.
Spanish words and phrases sprinkled throughout in a way that's pretty easy to understand.
October 25, 2021
Both The Tooth Fairy and El Raton Perez receive the signal that a child has lost a tooth. They go to the child's house and begin fighting over the tooth. They pull so hard that it flings across the bedroom into a tiny space up high. Neither The Tooth Fairy or El Raton Perez can get the tooth. Sad and dejected, they come up with a plan to work together and get the tooth. It works, they become friends, and they share the tooth. The book has an afterword that tells more about the legends of the Tooth Fairy and El Raton Perez which adds depth to this story. Great for February(National Children's Dental Health Month), lessons on legends, or when a child loses a tooth.
August 31, 2020
My favorite part about this book is that it shows a child who is straddling cultures - his parents and grandparents had their baby teeth collected by El Raton Perez, but not the Tooth Fairy has shown up for Miguel's tooth - presumably because there has been a change of location or cultural setting. That said, I don't care for the art and although it was probably under the guidence of an editor, I did not like the line "Yay! Mi diente, my tooth." No bilingual person speaks that way. This is an OwnVoices book, so I doubt that was the author's original phrasing, but it is possible.
April 26, 2021
Miguelito places his tooth under his pillow, and goes to sleep. El Raton Perez, and the Tooth fairy both arrive at the same time to claim Miguelito's diente. Who will claim ownership of the tooth? Will it be the Tooth Fairy or El Raton Perez? Read along and discover how they solve this problem.
December 11, 2023
I loved this book!! I loved everything about it! I think it is such a fun story for all young readers, especially ELLs. I think it did a great job fulfilling its role as a bilingual story. It would make a great story for a read-aloud and reader's theatre. The author and illustrations coincided so well together.
April 3, 2019
This is a fantastic book! I love the use of Spanish and the part in the back of the book that talks about the folklore of El Raton Perez! This is a great addition for a bilingual storytime!
December 29, 2020
Fun story about the collision of two cultural traditions. (I hadn't ever heard stories about what the tooth fairy does with teeth, though, so I'm not sure that's as canonical?)
December 20, 2021
I hadn't heart of El Ratón Pérez until this book, pretty neat. I liked the way they switched from "mine" to "ours" and worked together. Fun little tale about sharing and cooperating.
May 2, 2024
Overall, this was a fantastic book!
The illustrations were breath-taking, the characters were well-rounded and the story was well put together. This story did a great job of combining the traditions of both American and Salvadoran heritages into one comical story.
The illustrations were breath-taking, the characters were well-rounded and the story was well put together. This story did a great job of combining the traditions of both American and Salvadoran heritages into one comical story.
February 13, 2026
A cute book that introduces the traditions of who collects teeth in Anglo-Saxon and Hispanic communities. It’s especially a fun concept because the child at the center of it all is growing up with both traditions, so the question becomes who takes his teeth? I’m French American so you would think I’d have been torn between “la petite souris” or the tooth fairy, but I was 100% sure that the latter took my teeth. After all, I couldn’t imagine how a little French mouse would get all the way to America to gather my teeth.
February 16, 2017
I read this book to my kindergarten reading group and they loved it! I thought it was a great book because it takes two different cultural beliefs and joins them together in a fun adventure! Of course it's not realistic but it is simply amazing! The illustrations are mind blowing! This story is about a boy named Miguelito, who recently lost his tooth. Late at night the Tooth Fairy and El Ratón Pérez come to claim their tooth. However, there is an issue since they both want the tooth. The tooth fairy, who is responsible for collecting teeth in the United States, wants Miguelito's tooth. Meanwhile, El Ratón Pérez is the one that has collected all of Miguelito's grandparents and parents teeth. They both have a misunderstanding but soon find a solution for it! This book is amazing because it simply connects both languages together (Spanish and English) and it also includes a glossary and brief history of both characters in the back of the book. Below is the checklist.
The story:
☑ is interesting to children.
☑ offers children a variety of things to think about, question, or consider.
☑is age-appropriate and children can understand what is represented.
☑ includes a rich, thick plot.
☑ includes a problem and resolution.
☑utilizes style and language that are appropriate for the children’s ages and interests.
-includes realistic, convincing characters.
The illustrations:
☑are accurate in terms of setting, plot, and characters.
☑correspond to the text.
☑hold the children’s interest while the text is read.
☑enhance and add to the story.
Cultural considerations:
☑ Characters represent a variety of cultural groups.
☑Children are exposed to multiple perspectives and values.
☑ There are no negative stereotypes of the represented groups.
☑ The lifestyles of the characters are genuine and complex not oversimplified or generalized.
☑ The characters use speech that accurately represents their culture and oral traditions.
☑ The author and/or illustrator are a part of the group represented.
☑ “Good” characters reflect a variety of backgrounds.
☑There is diversity represented within cultural groups.
The story:
☑ is interesting to children.
☑ offers children a variety of things to think about, question, or consider.
☑is age-appropriate and children can understand what is represented.
☑ includes a rich, thick plot.
☑ includes a problem and resolution.
☑utilizes style and language that are appropriate for the children’s ages and interests.
-includes realistic, convincing characters.
The illustrations:
☑are accurate in terms of setting, plot, and characters.
☑correspond to the text.
☑hold the children’s interest while the text is read.
☑enhance and add to the story.
Cultural considerations:
☑ Characters represent a variety of cultural groups.
☑Children are exposed to multiple perspectives and values.
☑ There are no negative stereotypes of the represented groups.
☑ The lifestyles of the characters are genuine and complex not oversimplified or generalized.
☑ The characters use speech that accurately represents their culture and oral traditions.
☑ The author and/or illustrator are a part of the group represented.
☑ “Good” characters reflect a variety of backgrounds.
☑There is diversity represented within cultural groups.
October 29, 2010
Miguelito, a Hispanic American, has lost a tooth! But who will claim it: the Tooth Fairy or El Raton Perez?
Lainez has created a delightfully imagined encounter between two imaginary creatures who do the same task, but in different cultures. When they meet, The Tooth Fairy points out that she collects the teeth of American child. El Raton Perez argues back that he has gathered the teeth of Miguelito's padres and abuelitos. This book might work well to start a discussion with a young reader about a dual (or duel!) culture. Notes in the back explain how the the little being who gathers our lost teeth is named and thought of differently in many cultures and nations.
The only slightly unsatisfying thing about this book is the ending: really, how can two creatures SHARE a tooth, especially if they live in different worlds? Oh, well.
Lainez has created a delightfully imagined encounter between two imaginary creatures who do the same task, but in different cultures. When they meet, The Tooth Fairy points out that she collects the teeth of American child. El Raton Perez argues back that he has gathered the teeth of Miguelito's padres and abuelitos. This book might work well to start a discussion with a young reader about a dual (or duel!) culture. Notes in the back explain how the the little being who gathers our lost teeth is named and thought of differently in many cultures and nations.
The only slightly unsatisfying thing about this book is the ending: really, how can two creatures SHARE a tooth, especially if they live in different worlds? Oh, well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2010
I thought this book was darling...although maybe I should have waited a couple of years to read it to my kids. Here in the US the tooth fairy collects our teeth. But in Mexico and many other countries, it is El Raton Perez. But what to do if a boy from Mexico now lives in the US? Who does his tooth belong to then? Maybe the two will fight over it or maybe, just maybe, they can reach an agreement...
A sprinkling of Spanish throughout made it fun for my kiddos.
But they were a little confused why the tooth fairy doesn't collect teeth from all over the world. Why would a rat get kids' teeth? Again, maybe this would be a better read aloud when the tooth fairy days are nearly done, not just beginning.
A sprinkling of Spanish throughout made it fun for my kiddos.
But they were a little confused why the tooth fairy doesn't collect teeth from all over the world. Why would a rat get kids' teeth? Again, maybe this would be a better read aloud when the tooth fairy days are nearly done, not just beginning.
March 31, 2011
Beautiful illustrations and a lovely tale of when two cultures collide, in this case the American/English Tooth Fairy arrives for the same tooth as El Ratón Pérez, the Spanish/Mexican Tooth Mouse. Cooperation is the key in this delightful book that seamlessly mixes in Spanish words in the predominately English text. I like the author's notes and glossary in back.
Found this out on the web:
Story behind the Story for this book. Made me laugh, I could so easily see that happening to me!! Definitely worth reading.
Found this out on the web:
Story behind the Story for this book. Made me laugh, I could so easily see that happening to me!! Definitely worth reading.
September 5, 2012
What a fun book to compare and contrast traditions in Mexico and the United States. When Miguelito loses his tooth, he puts it under his pillow. The Tooth Fairy (United States) and El Raton Perez (Mexico) both follow the signal to collect Miguelito's tooth. After arguing about who should get the tooth, the two of them work together and leave Miguelito a note and two shiny coins.
A nice addition to school libraries, especially for schools with students of Mexican heritage. Even if your school doesn't have many of these students, this text is a lovely way to introduce two different cultural traditions in a way that young students will enjoy.
A nice addition to school libraries, especially for schools with students of Mexican heritage. Even if your school doesn't have many of these students, this text is a lovely way to introduce two different cultural traditions in a way that young students will enjoy.
January 9, 2014
When Miguelito loses a tooth and leaves it under his pillow, he has no idea it will cause an international incident, but it does. As he sleeps the Tooth Fairy comes to claim his tooth but so does El Raton. You see, while Miguelito may well be American, his parents and grandparents lived in Mexico when they were young enough to lose their teeth, so El Raton has every intention of collecting his too, even if he does have to enter the Tooth Fairy's territory. The two tooth collectors argue and fuss, wrestle and wrangle, but when the tooth ends up out of reach they learn only cooperation will get them what they want before Miguelito awakes.
May 26, 2010
Ever wonder what happened to that tooth you hid under your pillow? Did the tooth fairy take it or did El Raton Perez lasso it? A unique twist to the story of the tooth fairy using a multicultural perspective. Lainez uses the concept of teamwork and sharing in this story of new found friendship.
The artwork is equally impressive. The softness of the toothfairy mixed in with the vibrant colors of El Raton Perez makes this a story that is fun and will keep the kids entertained.
The artwork is equally impressive. The softness of the toothfairy mixed in with the vibrant colors of El Raton Perez makes this a story that is fun and will keep the kids entertained.
February 23, 2015
This is another bilingual book that is just plain fun to read aloud! I enjoy these types of books, but it really reminds me of the importance of reading before you present to the group. I have to read and prepare myself to do this type of book justice. There is a pronunciation guide provided as well as end-notes about the different culture aspects of these tooth-related folk characters. I am so pleased to have this book in our library collection!
February 18, 2011
This was more fun that I expected. Two legends meet and need to figure out who is going to get Miguel's tooth. The book uses some Spanish when El Raton is speaking. The back of the book explains the history of the Tooth Fairy and El Raton.
May 18, 2013
The tooth fairy and El Raton get into a little a tussle over a tooth. A look at both American and Latin traditions.
This was a little too silly for me. I'd rather just read a book about El Raton rather than a book with both of them.
This was a little too silly for me. I'd rather just read a book about El Raton rather than a book with both of them.
October 30, 2013
I loved it because it finally sets the record straight on these teeth issue. It also shows lessons on sharing and cleanliness. Now I have yet another reason why Jennifer has to brush her teeth with passion. And I have to prepare two coins for her first tooth. ;)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews