Levine, Arthur A. and Sarah S. Brannen The Very Beary Tooth Fairy. 32 pgs. Scholastic Press, Feb. 2013. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK. All his life Zach has been warned to stay away from humans because they are dangerous and unpredictable, but one day he overhears a human boy with a loose tooth saying that the Tooth Fairy will visit soon. This makes Zach wonder just who will visit him when his own loose tooth falls out -- a human Tooth Fairy, or a bear one? It cannot possibly be a human, because humans are mean...but what if it is? What will he do then? When he finds out the Tooth Fairy is indeed a bear, he is very relieved, as his belief that bears are good and humans are not is confirmed.
This is a prettily-illustrated story about a popular topic, and one that addresses a question that many kids have: Who is the Tooth Fairy? Unfortunately, although the book claims to teach tolerance, the opposite is actually true. The resulting lesson is that it is okay to be biased against people who are different, and that such biases are rewarded. It was also frustrating that his sister, who was supposed to be a role model, acted superior, tricky, and downright mean throughout the story. Her one kind act at the end did little to redeem her. Pre-K, EL(K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by: Caryn
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