You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 23, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0811854604
ISBN-13: 978-0811854603

About the book:

All over America, kids are losing their teeth. And who is there to gather them up, leaving coins in their places? The Tooth Fairy, of course! A self-described "action kind of gal" with plenty of attitude, she reveals her secrets at last. Learn about her amazing Tooth-o-Finder. Marvel at her ingenious flying machine. Watch her in action, dodging dogs and cats and gerbils. You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? is the essential guide for every kid about to lose a tooth. And don't forget, February is National Children's Dental Health Month.

I got the ask the author some questions regarding this book. Here are her answers:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

It’s about a feisty tooth fairy who doesn’t have wings. Instead, she zips through the night air on a jet-powered surfboard that is shaped like a tooth. That was the illustrator’s idea. But I came up with her other techno gadgets, including her Tooth-o-Finder (a gadget on her wrist that hears the ting-ting-ting of newly fallen teeth), and her Spy-o-Binoculars, which helps her to plan her entry into each kid’s house. Tooth has sold 12,000+ copies since its publication in August 2007. People tell me they love my tooth fairy’s fun, independent spirit. She’s the first tooth fairy to really promote girl power! And everyone really likes the illustrations. David Slonim did a great job making her so accessible. Her big blue eyes, her wild mop of red curls-- and her Richard Nixon nose! -- make her easy to love. Too, her little firefly friends add to her appeal.

What did you do to make sure that the book appealed to both kids and adults?

I think kids love getting the inside scoop on the tooth fairy's nightly tasks -- including all of the obstacles she has to deal with.But I think adults dig the tooth fairy's rules, including where,exactly, to place the tooth for pick up. Many moms have told me that they like her strong spirit -- that she's a good role model for their daughters. That's a huge compliment. And they love the fact that my tooth fairy only deals in quarters. That really helps out the family budget!

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

There was no one inspiration behind Tooth. I simply ran out of time coming up with a manuscript draft for a picture book workshop I was about to attend. So I decided to stay in bed that day, until an idea came to me. For some reason I started thinking about Santa....and the Easter Bunny...and the tooth fairy. I got to wondering why she was always protrayed as a dainty, winged creature. Because in my mind it made a lot more sense for her to be a go-getter treasure hunter. And that's when I came up with the idea for my book.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

As a child I read tons of fairy tales, mostly because I loved the chivalry of the brave knights. When I got older, I loved reading Nancy Drew; I think because it was a girl figuring everything out! Now, when choosing reading material (I'm always at the public library!), I tend to go for stories with quirky characters who step into the fullness of themselves. I love books with hope, and forgiveness, and transformation. Kind of balances out the crap we're constantly bombarded with by TV and newspapers. ;-)

What are you currently working on?

I'm currently a full-time student in the baking program of my local community college, so I'm hoping some baking-related books or stories will pop up. I've also got my middle grade novel perking on the backburner. I need to get back to finding an agent for it, as I think it's a wonderful story. It's about a kid who lives on a junk lot. He hates every bit of it, until he uses the junk to make an art sculpture for a school art competition. He loves Abraham Lincoln, acronymns, and his pooch Taco. His dad, and the school bully? Not so much.

Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

My biggest piece of advice for any writer is FOCUS. By that I mean turn off your email and the web for at least half of the day. Then use that uninterrupted time to produce something new. I also thinks it's important to write regularly. I don't think it's necessary to writefor a specific amount of time each day -- or even at the same time every day -- but some type of routine is important. Third, I'd say setting deadlines is critical. Tell yourself that a first draft mustbe ready in two weeks. Or a month. Then tell a writer friend about your deadline and ask her/him to hold you accountable. It's too easy to fudge deadlines when there's no editor chomping at the bit. Lastly, make yourself show your work to other writers and editors. People who tell me they've got lots of stories in a drawer make me crazy. All that creativity, but they're terrified of being told it's crap! Give me that problem any day!

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement?

Oy! I'm too young for this question! HA! But, as I've been married for 23 years, I certainly count that as a great achievement. Seems like only yesterday that I said, "I do!" to a guy with braces and one chest hair!

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?

Writers are incredibly lucky to do what they do. To inspire, to ignite dreams, to change lives. So charge forth grandly, because some day, we'll find outjust how much impact we had on others. What an honor!

About the author:

Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt is an award-winning magazine writer and the author of two children's activity books. This is her first picture book. She lives in Buffalo, New York.

For more info visit: www.4kids.Bell-Rehwoldt.com