The Tooth Fairy vs. Santa

Blue, an aspiring tooth fairy, is assigned to retrieve a child’s lost tooth on Christmas Eve—the final test before officially joining the “Toothtopia Tooth Fairy Team.” But when Blue arrives, Santa is at the girl’s house, too, and he insists that nothing steal thunder from his deliveries (“We can’t share Christmas Eve!”). After engaging in a series of competitions to decide who should leave (fencing with a toothbrush and candy cane, among them), the opponents realize that they’ve made a mess of the house and the holiday’s meaning. The cartoon-style art is energetic and eager to please, rendered in colors as bright as holiday lights, but readers may grow impatient waiting for Deenihan and Hunting to reach the titular face-off. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)