Digital art makes fairy tale pop: 'Tilly and the Tooth Fairy' charms young readers, grownups

BOOK REVIEW
Tilly and the Tooth Fairy
Written by Brian G. Chambers 
Illustrated by Söndra N. Rymer
Interest level: Pre-school-gr. 2
Digital format: pdf and epub (iBook)
Publisher: Jet Black Publishing, 2015

NOTE FROM CAT: 
There are two changes about book reviews on Cat's Corner, Lovely Readers.  Please let me know what you think about them!

• This post marks the transition of book reviews from my  Kid Lit Books blog to Cat's Corner.  It helps you flnd my posts all in one place, and it's one less blog for me to maintain.  I'll keep previous reviews on KidLit Book Reviews to maintain  their links to Goodreads, Amazon, Net Galley, etc..

• I'm also adding a new "Feline: book review rating to offer richer feedback.
  

"Tilly & the Tooth Fairy," by Brian Chambers; art by Sondra N. Rymer

Book Review by Cat Michaels: "Tilly & the Tooth Fairy"

Our Review
Five-year old Niecelette helped me review this book, and her comments are incorporated at the end of this post.

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.  And this is when the fairy tale veers off course, and the fun begins.  

There was one instance where I changed the narrative to help an American child’s comprehension of British-based currency: instead of five pounds, I used five pieces of gold.    No biggie!

However, young readers easily understand Chamber’s simple, flowing language. As in most fairy tales, the narrative stops with a happily-ever-after ending. I wish I 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?

Author Brian G. 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.  

Niecelette loved Tilly's details, animals

Recommendation
Niecelette and I agree that Tilly and the Tooth Fairy is a story young readers (especially those of tooth-losing age!) and adults can enjoy again and again. 

Its sweetness and length make for a perfect bedtime snuggle. Tilly would also be excellent in the classroom or home school, with educators using its visual prompts to encourage written or oral expression as children re-tell the tale in their preferred style. This book's gentle narrative and amazing art hold lasting appeal for the child in us all.

Niecelette's Review
 I liked everything about the story.  My favorite part is .... she points to two deer shown on the last page (see photo).  She scrolls back for a longer look at a scene with little mice hiding under Tilly’s bed.  She is enchanted with the visual details and story line.

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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 digital art techniques with real costumed children as models. Then she places these characters smack into digitally enhanced photographs that thematically connects to the story's old-fashioned setting.

Using my laptop as an e-reader, we could read text or view the art, but we were not able to view both together on a single page as with many print 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, children might use the book's images to tell their own story, once they're familiar with the narrative.  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.    

Connect with Brian and Söndra

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Disclosure
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Connect with Author Brian G. Chambers 
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Connect with Illustrator Söndra N Rymer
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Find this book on JetBlackPublishing

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