Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy?

Actor Alexander puts aside his sitcom schtick and Broadway dancing shoes to impart some parental wisdom in his first book for children. Unfortunately, the result is a treacly mess. Like most kids, young Gaby believes in magic. He's thrilled that the tooth fairy leaves coins and notes for him when he places a baby tooth in a special envelope under his pillow. But as he gets older and hears talk from more worldly kids about fairies being nonsense, he decides to get to the bottom of things. The titular query to his father results in a confusing story-within-a-story about the legend of magic fairies and how they communicate with modern-day parents and kids. Though Alexander's heart may be in the right place, few kids will likely have the patience for this convoluted tale and may well be disappointed in the ethereal answer given by Gaby's dad. Spears, also making his picture book debut, delivers a combination of realistic and exaggerated family portraits where Dad sometimes resembles Jerry Seinfeld, fittingly enough. The artist also creates a rainbow-hued fairy realm teeming with mystical creatures. Ages 4-8. (May)