Review: “The Tooth Mouse” written by Susan hood ; illustrated by Janice Nadeau
“Have you ever lost a baby tooth, placed it under your pillow and found a coin left by the Tooth Fairy? In many countries around the world, there is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy. Instead there is ...
(Excerpt from The Tooth Mouse)
“The Tooth Mouse” by Susan Hood and illustrated by Janice Nadeau is the charming story of a little mouse named Sophie who wished to become the next Tooth Mouse. Set in France, the story follows Sophie as she tries to prove she is worthy of inheriting the title of Tooth Mouse from its current owner, succeeding in trials that test her bravery, honesty, and wisdom. Sprinkled with french words and a delightfully expressive vocabulary, “The Tooth Mouse” is a great read for kids age 4-6 who love fairy tales, and parents who want to broaden their child’s geographical and vocabulary horizons.
When introducing a child to a book, it is good to give them a frame of reference for how to engage with the story. “The Tooth Mouse” helpfully gives you one in its opening: this is a story that is similar but different to that of the Tooth Fairy. We are still dealing with little creatures exchanging teeth for coins, but now we see a different culture’s take on the tale. Beyond simply being the origin of the myth, the book’s setting in France is also used to introduce the child to some basic french words. Words like “chérie” and “très bien” are used in such a way that their meaning is easily understood, while others are identical to their english counterparts. Whether in french or english, the writing is full of expressive and varied vocabulary, teaching kids the meaning of words like “gnawing” and “thievery” through clever use of context clues and delivery, through words and pictures.
A book, however, is not only its words but the story it tells, and “The Tooth Mouse” succeeds in this area as well. Sophie is an ambitious little mouse determined to prove her worthiness as Tooth Mouse. Throughout her story she is faced with challenges, but always she rises to the occasion. Sophie is rewarded for her perseverance and problem solving skills, as well as for demonstrating that she possesses the qualities necessary to be a Tooth Mouse: bravery, honesty, and wisdom. Her story teaches children not only that these are admirable traits, but that even the most difficult of challenges can be overcome if you persevere. Sophie is brave and honest and wise, but above all she never stops trying, and she never stops believing in her ability to surmount the challenges placed in her way.
Once the story is over, a fun way to engage the child with what they just read might be imagining their own solutions to Sophie’s challenges: what would they do if they were challenged to think of a use for a thousand baby teeth? How might they convince a cat to give up its whiskers? Perhaps instead the child could be asked to come up with their own version of what happens to their baby teeth. If the child is younger, maybe a simple drawing of what a Tooth Mouse might look like. “The Tooth Mouse” lends itself well to activities that encourage creativity, whether through drawings or crafts or puzzle solving depending on the age of the child. Regardless of what happens after, “The Tooth Mouse” is a sweet and engaging story that will be enjoyed by children and their parents alike.
