Such a pleasure to work on this wonderfully sweet fairy tale picture book. Tilly is such a joyful read to any child, ages 3 - 8 recommendation.

Author Brian Chambers and digital artist Söndra N Rymer offer a charming twist on a childhood legend in their e-book, Tilly and the Tooth Fairy. They create a world for preschoolers and early readers that is a visual feast. Five-year old Niecelette also reviewed this book with me, so I incorporated her comments, too.

MY REVIEW
Narrative
The story follows young Tilly after her tooth falls out on the eve of her birthday. Tilly tells her parents and writes a note to the Tooth Fairy in hopes of receiving money in exchange for her tooth. Alas, hard-working Mama and Papa are concerned. Even though Papa promises riches, the reality is that Tilly's parents are just making ends meet. They do not have extra cash to fund a lost tooth. This is when the fairy tale veers off course, and the fun begins.

Young readers easily understand Chamber’s simple, flowing language. Like most fairy tales, the narrative ends abruptly with a happily-ever-after ending. I wish we knew more about Tilly and her new life after the tooth fairy. But isn't that just like a good book to leave the reader wanting more?

Illustrations and Format
Text is printed in a warm brown serif font against a rich gold background that resembles old-timey parchment. There is plenty of white space between each line to encourage beginning readers to pick out key words or phrases.

Rymer uses a digital art technique on centered real costumed children as models. Then she places her characters smack into a photograph that thematically connects to the story in its old-fashioned setting.

Using the e-book on my tablet, I could read text or view the art, but I was unable to view both together on a single page as is the case with many picture books. Sometimes, there were two consecutive pages of text before a visual. This type of layout might be problematic for some children, who need visuals to maintain attention or assist with language and context. On the other hand, I could see children using the book's images to tell their own story, once familiar with the narrative. The visuals could also be a ‘reward’ for listening to the story line.

Unique Features
While Chambers' narrative is charming, Rymer's digital art nearly steals the show in its inventiveness and execution. Her images pop off the screen and pull young readers (and grownups!) into the story.

NIECELETTE'S REVIEW
“I liked everything about the story. My favorite part is…” (points to two deer in the background of the last page. She also loves the little mice hiding under Tilly’s bed).

Niecelette loves books, and this story kept her attention. I tweaked a few parts while reading the story with her to make it more meaningful to a child from the US. For instance, I changed the reference of five ‘pounds’ to five ‘pieces of gold’ since she would not understand British-based currency.

Recommendations
Niecelette and I think Tilly and the Tooth Fairy is a book young readers can enjoy again and again (especially those of tooth-losing age)! This tale and its amazing art have lasting appeal for the child in us all.

Disclosure
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Cat Michaels, M.S., Ed.

We loved this magical book!

Tilly & the Tooth Fairy deserves two reviews, one for the story and one for the beautiful illustrations by Söndra Rymer. The whole book has an old fashioned fairytale feel to it and it’s a pleasure to turn the pages. When Tilly’s tooth falls out, she settles off to sleep wishing for a visit from the tooth fairy. My children were enchanted with Tilly’s story and they loved the magical ending. It is a delightful take on the tooth fairy tale and one that all young children can believe in.

The illustrations fitted the story perfectly adding their own magic. My children were fascinated with them and questioned how they were created. My eldest decided that the artist must have used magic and fairy dust to make them so special. Each picture tells a little part of the tale and my youngest non-reader was able to retell the story just from the pictures alone. Each one is a work of art. We all have our own favourite, but personally, I love the cheeky tooth fairy best.

This book has brought smiles, giggles and some magical fairy sparkle into our bedtime reading. I anticipate it will continue bringing joy for a long time to come.

This was a charming little tale of a child loosing her first tooth. It was easy to read along while visualizing the story. This would make a great book for a child loosing their first tooth and introducing the wonders of the tooth fairy to them. It offers some fantasy and the illustrations are outstanding. It gives the feel of an old time setting where magic was most prevalent in the lives of children. For me personally I like this book because I believe that in todays day and age where everything is technology based we get back to good "old fashioned" reading. We need to share the feeling of being connected to something besides the magic that technology offers. This story will help expand your child's sense of imagination and offer you a chance to join them on a tale of happy endings. I would recommend this book because it marries past, present and technology perfectly with the story and the art to give us all a sense of magic! I wonder if I pull one of my teeth out, will the tooth fairy do the same for me? LOL

Tilly and the Tooth Fairy is a gorgeous book full of rich photo-illustrations. Children will love- love- love these magical pictures! As an adult reading it to my four-year-old niece, the biggest question in my head as I read it was “How in the world were these beautiful pictures created?" The story, as well, is sweet and charming, with a fairy tale feel to it that matches the mood of the pictures. In my opinion, this is a book that children will enjoy over and over again, not only because of its positive message and magical quality, but also because there will always be something new to see in these pictures

I enjoyed this sweet tale of a little girl losing her first tooth, and felt that the staged photography used in the illustrations really brought the fairytale to life. Youngsters are bound to see themselves magically transported into each scene, and they will no doubt enjoy pretending that they are the little girl, Tilly, from the story, and that they too get to meet the Tooth Fairy!

Ideal for kids losing their first tooth. This book will make a great read aloud bedtime story, but is also as a Beginner Reader.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tilly and the Tooth Fairy takes a familiar story about a child who lost her first tooth and spins it a little, with a happy ending for her entire family. My favorite part of the book was gorgeous full page photo-illustrations. Children will fall in love with these magical pictures! I always feel that a children's story is nothing without goo illustrations, and illustrator Sondra Rymer truly out did herself. These pictures are so beautiful that everytime you read this story you will discover a new gem.

A beautifully designed book that will capture your child's imagination about the tooth fairy. The accompanying artwork brings the words of the story to life. A great gift for any child.

Great illustrations and super adorable story! Great book!

This book has an old fashioned fairytale feel to it and the photographs bring the story to life. When Tilly’s tooth falls out, she settles off to sleep wishing for a visit from the tooth fairy. Now this isn't the same ol' tooth fairy tale, it has its very own spin to it.

The illustrations fitted the story perfectly adding their very own magic to the book. Each picture tells a little part of the tale allowing kids to retell the story just from the pictures alone.

The illustrator used photographs to create gorgeous, magical illustrations. They are really a work of art.

This is a thoroughly fun and delightful little story, with a refreshing twist on traditional tooth fairy tales. The artwork takes the story to another level, utilizing photo illustrations created thru digital photography to refreshingly modernize an old tale for a new generation. Children will love and identify with the artful and fun illustrations, keeping them engrossed as the story unfolds. Highly recommended for bedtime reading and for young readers about to embark on their own toothless adventures.

Oh what a delightful book. The images here are fanciful and engaging. I loved the detail in each picture page of the story. This would make a wonderful Christmas gift, or tuck it away to give to a child once that first tooth falls out.

I love the illustrations in this book! The old-fashioned fairy tale draws readers in, but it's the digital images that steal the show. With every turn of the page, readers are invited into a dream-like, magical world. The detail is incredible and truly unique. Every child can relate to Tilly's experience of losing a tooth, and the happily-ever-after ending is delightful. This is a book adults and children can enjoy over and over.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this exceptional little book. The story drew me in and the marvelous, magical images held my interest until the end of the exceptional story. I think any child would be overjoyed to receive this book as a gift – and enthralled by the enchanting little story. The photos were so clear and charming -- great job by author and photographer! I liked this one!

The charm of this book lies in the beautiful digital artwork. It makes this book unique, and children are sure to be drawn by it.

The story itself easily falls into the preschool to third grade range. The book is appropriate as a Read Aloud for younger children and older children will find the structure easy-to-read. It would be a nice gift to have stashed away for a child to receive when losing their first tooth, along with a little purse filled with coins.

"Tilly & the Tooth Fairy, written by Brian G. Chambers and illustrated by Sondra Nell Rymer, brings us a magical encounter with an age old conflict of childhood, safety vs. disappointment.
Rymer’s creativity and eye-popping graphics create a visual experience so large it pulls you into every scene. A family struggling to make ends meet are torn when faced with the childhood joys of losing that first tooth. Wanting his precious little girl to reach beyond the metered out portions assigned to them by life’s meager hand, her father dares her to believe in a world of fairytales and magic. A world that meters by a more gracious hand. Mother, however, is saddened by the very real possibility of disappointment that Tilly will face. But, our story ends true to the hopeful, for good things come to those who dare to believe! Each heart comes to its crossroads. Each must choose their course. Which will it be, the safe route of practicality, or the daring of imagination, that believes all things are possible? Fairytales inspire us to look beyond the ordinary, and imagine what could be. To dare to try what others can’t see. Brian Chambers has let his heart believe, and his love flows, much like the father of our story, as he encourages us to reach for our dreams. Rymer’s flow of color and scenery are a true sensory delight that carries us to that higher place of wonder and imagination." ~ Review by Story Monsters, Inc