Tooth Fairy Book Page

You think it's EASY
being the Tooth Fairy?

Think again--of stormy nights, dangerous pets, pearly whites hidden in pajama pockets or wrapped in dirty tissues, to say nothing of all those thousands of teeth falling out all over the world every single day. The Tooth Fairy's nights are long and hard. But she's up for it. She never misses a tooth. How does she do it? For the first time ever, she reveals everything right here!

 

 

Video Clip: You Think It's Easy
Being the Tooth Fairy?

Good Things Utah (Channel 4) co-host Angie Larsen gushes about Tooth during show!

 

Audio Clip: You Think It's Easy
Being the Tooth Fairy?

(SCROLL DOWN)
Written and produced by Susan Kay Wyatt
and Tony Campodonico

 

Visit Sheri's Tooth Fairy blog

Photos of Sheri Reading Tooth Fairy

 

Sheri's School Visit Page

Sheri's Books Page

 

Jump to Sheri's Website for Kids

 

Sheri: I wrote the book after registering for
a picture book workshop offered by The Highlights Foundation. We were told to
arrive with a completed picture book draft, which would be critiqued by the instructors and our fellow students. So, early one morning, as the workshop loomed close, I
told myself that I couldn’t get out of bed
until I came up with my book idea. As my brain rattled around, jumping from
thought to thought, I eventually found
myself wondering why the tooth fairy is
always portrayed as this dainty, magical creature—complete with wings, wand,
and flouncing skirts. To my mind, what
has kept the tooth fairy going all these
years is the thrill of the hunt. I bet she's as addicted to nabbing baby teeth as I
am to dark chocolate! I see her as very
James Bondish--with quite the attitude!


Q: Did you have anyone in mind when you wrote You Think It's Easy
Being the Tooth Fairy?

Sheri: Ummm, no. But I kept envisioning this lumpy older woman who really worked up a sweat as she worked. Really, she should have given up the job years ago, but she loves it too much. Part of her problem, as I saw it, was her addiction to donuts (she carried a six-pack on each hip). My illustrator, David Slonim, chose to illustrate her sans donuts—and very much in shape—which was probably the smarter way to go! I love tongue-in-cheek humor, which is what I was going for, but I adore David’s vision of her. She's all sass!

Q: Did you do any research to write
You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?

Sheri: No. Okay, I did eat a lot of donuts
that week, and aped around my living room pretending I was rappelling down the side of a kid’s bed after nabbing a tooth. But that’s about it. After I wrote the first draft I read a number of other tooth fairy books.
I was relieved that none of them were remotely close to what I had come up with.
And even more relieved that some of them were downright boring! I don't think
anyone will say that about my book!

Q: As you've also written a middle grade novel, several activity books, and
lots of magazine articles, where would
you rank writing a picture book,
in terms of difficulty?

Sheri: Hands down, I'd say writing picture books has been the most challenging.
People who haven't written one assume they're the easiest format to write: after
all, you're writing for young children.
That's true, but the difficulty with picture
books is that the dialogue must be succinct and picture-friendly, with action on every page. Without "stuff"for the illustrator to illustrate, there's no picture book.

Q: Do you have any advice for those who also yearn to write a picture book?

Sheri: Yes. Stop dreaming and write. Writing picture books ain't easy, but, getting started is surely the hardest part. No, wait; editing is even harder. That's why you
have to find a great editor who believes in your book. My editor, Susan Pearson, believed in this book from the get-go, even when it needed work. I was also very lucky that Chronicle liked the book from the start. The Chronicle staff is awesome. I've been very impressed with the warmth and
professionalism of everyone there.

Q: Any other tips?

Sheri: Just one more. Surround yourself with children on a frequent basis. Try your manuscripts out on them. See where they laugh, where they fidget. Ask them if they "get" your book: their comments will be very insightful!

First-Prize Winner - Children's Books, Fiction!
Delaware Press Association 2008 Communications Contest
National Federation of Press Women 2008 Communications Contest