Written by Louis J. McNeil
Illustrated by Yong Chen
Creative Gifts Int'l Inc., 1994

Full color illustrations in watercolor painting. 40 pages. (to view more artwork from this children's book, contact the artist)

Book summary: Little Maria had a little problem. She wondered if she was coming apart. One of her teeth was loose...

Mama said, "When it falls out, we'll put it into the little silver box and put it under your pillow. Then the Tooth Fairy will com and take your tooth, and maybe leave some money for your tooth..."

There was when I studied for my BFA Illustration in the Massachusetts College of Art, in Boston, one day there was a business gentleman came to my studio in the college, presented me the opportunity to illustrate a picture book for their company's upcoming gift-set product. Though it was a flat-fee project, as busy as I was, studied 7 courses at day, and worked full-time for a communication company at night, I took the project. That was the beginning of my journey of illustrating children's book. That is far before my picture book for Little Brown which recorded as my REAL children' book on the back cover of my published children's book.

Loose Tooth and Tooth Fairy: Around the age of five, a child will discover their first wiggly tooth. When that little tooth falls out, as most parents told their child to put the tooth under the pillow to wait for the Tooth Fairy to take it away, and maybe leave a couple dollar bills. To make it more memorable, some parents slip the Authentic Tooth Fairy Dollar and leave a personalized Thank You Note, so that the child will believe it more and happier. Most children believe Tooth Fairy, as for any Fairy.

The Tradition: There many different Tooth Fairy traditions from around the world. Historically, the idea of exchanging a gift for a child's tooth was established by the Vikings. When a child in the Viking society lost his or her tooth, the elders would give the child something special in return Viking men believed that a child's tooth brought them power over his enemies in times of battle. Thus, this cultural tradition has grown to modern day mothers and fathers exchanging their children's teeth for gift via that magical being, the Tooth Fairy. Pewter Box- (such as Tooth Fairies on Seesaw, Tooth Fairy Swinging, Tooth Fairy Sitting) Faerie Coins, Tooth Fairy Pillow, Tooth Fairy / Fairy Godmother Wand, are among the popular gift items for this occasion.