Avi Slovdovnick

Marissa is on her way to the dentist with her mother when she sees something interesting. She cannot stop thinking about what she saw, a man on the street with a small box of coins. After her visit, she passes the man again. She decides to give the man her tooth in the hopes that he will be visited by the tooth fairy and receive money. Although strange, this story gives the opportunity to talk about homelessness and compassion. We should all be like Marissa and do what we can to help others. I thought the illustration were a bit gloomy. I also think this may make children fear the dentist.… (meer)

My best friends name is Marissa just like the main character, so i thought it might be interesting. She had a tooth ache, so her mother took her to the dentist. She noticed a homeless man while she was in the city. She couldn't stop thinking about him and looking at him. She took her tooth and gave it to the homeless man and told him to put it under his pillow. I really thought the book was great for children who need exposure to things like this in the world. It helps children become aware of other peoples situations.… (meer)

This book touched my heart and I loved it. This book is about a young girl named Marissa. She went to the dentist with her mother so that she can get her tooth pulled. When they had to rush to the appointment, Marissa notices a homeless man. At her dentist's appointment, she thinks about the homeless man. Once she got her tooth pulled she left to go home while passing the homeless man, Marissa drops her tooth in the man's change box. She told him to put it under his pillow so the tooth fairy can give him money. I love how Marissa showed concern by giving him her tooth. All humans do deserve kindness, and we should not pass them up when they are going through a tough situation. I believe the theme is kindness. I know the children would love this book and the character Marissa.… (meer)

Marissa loved sweets and eventually her love for sweets caught up to her giving her a toothache so Marrisa's mother took her to the dentist downtown. Marissa hardly went downtown, but this time when she did, she noticed a man sitting on the sidewalk with a box of money in front of him, something she had never seen before. While Marissa waited in the waiting room for the dentist, she watched the man out the window and noticed that many people passed the man and very few put coins in his money box. When Marissa was finally examined by the dentist, she had to get her tooth pulled from the huge cavity she had. After the dentist pulled her tooth, he gave it to her in an envelope. When Marissa and her mother passed the man once again on their way home, Marissa put her tooth in the man's box and told him to put it under his pillow that night so there will be money the next morning. All the man needed now was a pillow.

I really loved this book. This book really highlights the selflessness, generosity, and innocence of a child. Although the man won't get any money for that tooth, it's the thought that counts. I will definitely be keeping this book in mind for my future classroom because this is definitely a book I will be wanting to share with my students to teach kindness and selflessness.… (meer)