Review - Andrew's Loose Tooth

Andrew's Loose Tooth
by Robert Munsch
illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Date: 1998
Publisher: Scholastic Canada
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Andrew's tooth is killing him, but it just won't fall out. So what do they do? Call the Tooth Fairy, of course!

Andrew bites into an apple and his loose tooth hurts. So his dad tries to take it out with a big pair of pliers, but no luck. So they call the dentist, who tries to pull it out with his car, but no luck. So Andrew's friend Louis calls the Tooth Fairy. She comes on her motorcycle and tries to pull out the tooth, but no luck. So it's up to Louis --he uses pepper to make Andrew sneeze the tooth all the way across town.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I have a feeling this one is based on personal experience.

This is a pretty entertaining book in the classic Munsch tradition. Andrew's loose tooth just won't come out, no matter what anyone does. And he can't have breakfast until it's out... so he's got a bit of a problem. His mother, his father, the dentist (who reminds me of one of my high-school English teachers), and the Tooth Fairy all fail to get that tooth out. But Andrew's best friend, Louis, has an idea that sends that tooth sailing right out of his mouth. (Actually, "sailing" isn't quite the right word. The tooth ended up being more like a bullet, perforating its way through town.)

This would be a great book for kids who are still at the age when they're losing their teeth... and for the parents who have to put up with the whining.

Quotable moment:

Andrew said, "I know what you're going to do! I know what you're going to do! You're going to tie the end of the rope to a door and then you're going to slam the door!"

"NO!" said the dentist. "I'm going to tie it to my car."

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5