
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a flash of hot-headedness or has unfairly blamed someone else in a moment of frustration. It is the perfect tool for navigating those tricky situations where a child's big emotions lead them to make accusations they might later regret. The story follows Ora Mae, a spirited young girl who loses her prized tooth and immediately assumes a family member has stolen it. Through colorful colloquialisms and a fun mystery, the book explores the cycle of anger, the embarrassment of being wrong, and the healing power of an apology. It is an excellent choice for kids aged 4 to 8 who are losing their first teeth or learning how to handle 'righteous' indignation within a loving family setting.
None. The book is secular and lighthearted. The 'anger' is portrayed through expressive, exaggerated language and scratchboard art, but the resolution is realistic and hopeful.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewAn expressive 6-year-old who feels things deeply and tends to 'act first, think later' when they feel wronged. It is perfect for children living in rural or Southern settings who will see their own dialect and environment reflected.
Read this cold. The Southern colloquialisms are fun to perform aloud, so parents might want to practice their best storyteller voice to lean into the rhythm of the text. A parent might choose this after their child has had a 'meltdown' involving blaming a sibling for a lost toy or a perceived injustice, especially if the child struggled to admit they were wrong.
Younger children (4-5) focus on the mystery of the missing tooth and the funny threats. Older children (7-8) will more keenly feel the internal cringe of Ora Mae’s realization that she was the one at fault.
Unlike many tooth fairy books that focus on the magic, this one focuses on the behavioral reality of a child’s ownership over their body and belongings. The scratchboard illustrations and regional dialect give it a distinct, gritty charm compared to more sanitized tooth books.
Ora Mae Cotton is certain she put her lost tooth under her pillow, but in the morning, it is gone. Convinced she has been robbed, she marches around her rural home accusing her mother, father, and siblings of the crime, threatening to send the thief 'airmail to the moon.' After a day of sleuthing and shouting, she discovers the tooth was in her own pocket all along. She must then face the music and apologize to her family.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.