The Very Beary Tooth Fairy

PreS-Gr 1—A small bear named Zach is told by his mother that he should avoid humans because they are "dangerous and unpredictable," but he chances to hear a human mother tell her son, who has just lost a tooth, that he should expect a visit from the tooth fairy. Zach, who is also about to lose a tooth, starts to worry: is the tooth fairy human and dangerous? After reassurances from his sister and mother, all ends well. The uncluttered watercolor illustrations help tell the story and emphasize the theme that "anyone can be a bear and a bear can be anyone," as Zach's mother says. There seems to be too much going on for a young audience to absorb fully. The illustrations also add to the confusion. Zach and his sister are dressed similarly to the two human children; Zach carries a human boy doll and the boy carries a bear (both dressed alike); the fairy is a bear; she waves her wand and a male baseball player in a picture above Zach's bed and the cub's doll become bears instead of humans. Finally, his sister Leah dresses up like the tooth fairy to reassure him at one point. For a wonderful book about everyone being able to do and be anything they choose, suggest Mary Hoffman's Amazing Grace (Dial, 1991).—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA