The Toothless Fairy
- 2015 INDIES Finalist
- Finalist, Child Author (17 and Under) (General)
Much like her beloved taffy, this fairy’s outer wrapper and soft inner core are sure to bring smiles and possibly a craving for sweets.
Embracing the joy and revelry that are hallmarks of the season, The Toothless Fairy from Timothy Jordan is a feel-good Halloween adventure that touches the heart of the holiday. Bright, colorful illustrations by Matthew LaFleur complement the antics of the fairy herself as she searches for friendship and finds some self-confidence during a memorable Halloween night.
A dentist’s nightmare, the fairy is down to a lone cuspid. With a near-toothless mouth, wart-filled face, and hairy chin, she sees herself as too ugly and scary to interact with others lest her visage send them running and screaming in fear. She longs for a friend to paint, play, and rollick with but remains lonely and alone until one fateful Halloween when she watches the trick-or-treaters and ventures out to find a kindred companion.
Full color spreads with whimsical images accompany a basic four-line stanza pattern with an easy, rolling aabb rhyme scheme maintained throughout, ideal for reading aloud. The message gets a bit muddled as the fairy, unsure of herself, uses presents and candy to sweeten the deal while looking for someone to see past her outward appearance, and she never does lose her love for sweets, despite the sorry state of her mouth.
However, “friendship, and mischief, and having a blast” are definitely emphasized as tenets of Halloween along with some amusing candy irreverence, and her nameless new friend, resplendent in pumpkin-themed footie pajamas, does not hesitate to accept the fairy with her candy corn–colored dress and sucker crown.
The Toothless Fairy, with its colorful candy and fun sounds, will appeal to children of primary school age or younger, while the message of self-worth and image works for elementary grades and older as well. Much like her beloved taffy, the fairy’s outer wrapper and soft inner core are sure to bring smiles and possibly a craving for sweets. This book is a welcome addition for any holiday or values collection in children’s libraries or classrooms, or on bookshelves everywhere.
Reviewed by
Pallas Gates McCorquodale
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
