Review - The Tooth Fairy vs. Santa

The Tooth Fairy vs. Santa
by Jamie L. B. Deenihan
illustrated by Erin Hunting
Date: 2019
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Santa and the Tooth Fairy go head-to-head in this funny, festive picture book perfect for the holidays!

Blue can't wait to complete his first mission to become a Tooth Fairy. So when he arrives at a child's house to collect her tooth and leave a coin, he's surprised to see Santa there. Turns out it's Christmas Eve, and jolly old Saint Nick is not ready to share the holiday! A competition to claim the night begins, but who will win the battle--Santa or the Tooth Fairy?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is actually a pretty entertaining story about a trainee Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus competing for Christmas Eve.

The story is mostly about Blue, who wants to be a Tooth Fairy. He writes the exams and does well; all he has to do is complete one assignment and collect a tooth from 5-year-old Veda. But when Blue arrives at her house, he finds that Santa Claus is already there... and Santa doesn't want to share the spotlight. They agree to have a contest, and the winner gets Christmas Eve. But as they're competing, they find a letter from Veda and are reminded of what's actually important.

The text is well written and the illustrations, done in a cartoonish style, are fun. I'm not sure why Santa is so selfish at the beginning (that's probably my only quibble with the story), but it works for plot purposes.

Overall, this is a fun story that combines two mythologies to create a cute holiday narrative. Kids anticipating their first visit from the Tooth Fairy (or another visit from Santa) will probably enjoy this one.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5