The Museum of Lost Teeth by Elyssa Friedland
Did the tooth fairy ever visit you as a child? If so, you probably have fond memories of finding dollars or coins under your pillow in the morning. It’s probably a much fonder memory than remembering what losing the tooth was like! That is, after all, what plenty of parents use the tooth fairy for: a way to make children feel more assured about a new experience that at first can seem confusing, gross and even painful. With the incentive of a visit from the tooth fairy, all the scariness of a loose tooth disappears.
But if you have an inquisitive child (which is pretty likely!) you may have been asked what happens to the teeth after they’re collected. That’s where The Museum of Lost Teeth (Harry N. Abrams) comes in. Written by Elyssa Friedland and illustrated by Gladys Jose, this charmingly playful book reassures children about the normality of losing teeth. What’s more unique is that the story is told from the perspective of a tooth!
From Mouth to Museum
“Toothy is a terrific tooth! He is short and sparkly and he lives in Liam’s mouth, next door to his best friend, Fang. Toothy’s formal address is: Bottom Row, Left Center, Liam Taylor’s Mouth, New Jersey.”
Toothy’s life as a tooth is going amazingly. With Fang by his side and Liam’s skill with the flosser, all Toothy has to do is sit tight and shine bright. But there’s a problem — Toothy isn’t sitting so tight anymore! After days of loosening, Toothy finally comes out and gets tucked under the pillow. Where’s he headed now?
That’s when Felicity Fairy shows up to guide the way. As the tooth fairy in charge of the Tri-State area, she brings Toothy to the Museum of Lost Teeth, a treasury for teeth of all types. Toothy gets a tour of the Molar Mile, the Canine Collection and even the shudder-inducing Cavity Corner. The last stop is Toothy’s new home, the Firsts Floor — where all the first lost baby teeth get to hang out together! It’s an incredible place to start his new life as a lost tooth. While Toothy may miss Liam, he knows that the two of them are ready for the next steps of their own paths.
A Whimsical Story That Puts Children at Ease
With colorful illustrations sprinkled with jokes and plenty of tooth puns, The Museum of Lost Teeth is sure to keep readers of every age entertained. And along with being a fun story-time read, it also packs an educational punch. The book stresses the importance of good dental hygiene practices — after all, your teeth might literally thank you! But most important is the message that young readers don’t have to fear when a tooth starts to come loose. It’s a perfectly normal part of childhood that they now have a guide for. Thanks to The Museum of Lost Teeth, kids will be looking forward to their teeth’s oncoming adventures — and their new pocket money! — rather than feeling afraid when a tooth starts to wiggle.
