Status
Checked out
Due 11-02-2023
Call number
Collection
Publication
HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (2013), 448 pages
Description
Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow. Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it?
User reviews
LibraryThing member BruceGargoyle
Quick synopsis:
Scary dentist lady spreads fear, loathing and creepy-crawlies while terrorising the life of lovable protagonist Alfie and his girlfriend (sorry, girl friend) Gabz.
For fans of Walliams, this will be another enjoyable escapade. Personally I feel he peaked with his first two books (The
Scary dentist lady spreads fear, loathing and creepy-crawlies while terrorising the life of lovable protagonist Alfie and his girlfriend (sorry, girl friend) Gabz.
For fans of Walliams, this will be another enjoyable escapade. Personally I feel he peaked with his first two books (The
Show More
Boy in the Dress and Mr Stink) and all those since have been a little bland. Nevertheless, there is much here to appeal to the target middle-grade audience and the large print and quirky illustrations make this a great choice for a read-together or to spur on a reluctant young reader. Show Less
LibraryThing member celerydog
Wide appeal to EAL students drawn in by large font and Tony Ross's quirky illustrations. 9+ A must for Walliams' fans.
LibraryThing member martensgirl
I was disappointed with this book; I have read several of Walliams' other books and this was nowhere near as good. I don't know whether it's because I'm tired of his books about children with 'issues' or whether the gags are wearing thin, but this book was not very enjoyable.
LibraryThing member rata
This book is typical of Walliams quirky sense of humour and children seem to love it. His writing style is great for kids as it portrays a lightness and humorous way of looking at the world.
I enjoyed this book, but must admit I skimmed through it to get the storyline and the scrawly drawings were
I also like the simplicity of the storyline in that a child puts their tooth under their pillow (for the tooth fairy) in the hope of receiving a coin in return. This idea (which we have all believed in at some time) then develops into a fantastical, imaginary story which is good for children to read and imagine.
In Walliams world it is not all pretty tooth fairies waving their twinkling wand and leaving a penny for a dear, toothless child, darkness had come to the town.
Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find...a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow.
Evil is at work. But who or what is behind it and WHY?????
I enjoyed this book, but must admit I skimmed through it to get the storyline and the scrawly drawings were
Show More
good to look at (all read in one afternoon). I also like the simplicity of the storyline in that a child puts their tooth under their pillow (for the tooth fairy) in the hope of receiving a coin in return. This idea (which we have all believed in at some time) then develops into a fantastical, imaginary story which is good for children to read and imagine.
In Walliams world it is not all pretty tooth fairies waving their twinkling wand and leaving a penny for a dear, toothless child, darkness had come to the town.
Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find...a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow.
Evil is at work. But who or what is behind it and WHY?????
Show Less
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Alfie is a young man with rotted teeth and a tough life. His dad has lung disease after years of working in the coal mines and is confined to a wheel chair. Alfie is pretty much in charge of everything at the house, and while he's doing the best he can, he's not up to the task. When a meddling
A quick, large print read in a book peppered with drawings. Part gross-out, part humor, this story explores a young boy trying to protect his family and friends. The ending is not all happy, but things have a way of working out.
Show More
social worker named Winnie shows up, he knows their might be problems. At the same time a new dentist, Miss Root, shows up in town giving out weird toothpaste and brushes and armfuls of candy to the kids in town. When Alfie and his friend Gabz compare notes they discover strange things happening in town. Teeth are disappearing from under pillows but instead of money, there are gross things left behind like eyeballs and animal ears. The pair begins to investigate and find Miss Root is not at all what she appears. A quick, large print read in a book peppered with drawings. Part gross-out, part humor, this story explores a young boy trying to protect his family and friends. The ending is not all happy, but things have a way of working out.
Show Less
LibraryThing member LaviniaRossetti
This book was terrifically funny but pretty creepy! The evil lady in it (of whom I won't give the name) seemed so real she would often come to life and I would be scared to put my letters under my pillow! Quite sad at points but very happy at others, this book was a brilliant novel and I can't wait
Short twelve-year-old Alfie was an ordinary little boy who led an ordinary life. His father had been confined to a wheelchair after having coal pulled up in his lungs in his young job as a miner. Alfie had to look after him by himself, for his mother died when he was only a little baby.
One day, when Alfie was out at school, the school dentist, Mr Erstwhile, had 'apparently stabbed himself with his own equipment', and a new, rather creepy looking woman, Mr Root, had taken his place. She would have probably broken the World Record of the creepiest look and the shiniest teeth, for everybody was dazzled by them.
Alfie hadn't been to the dentist for six years, for when he had had tooth ache, Mr Erstwhile had indeed used all his force to pull out the tooth causing it. But was it the causing tooth? Oh no. He had pulled out the wrong one. And when Alfie realised this, he started hiding stacks of dentist letters up on the pantry shelf, where no one could find them.
When Miss Root saw his rotten teeth, she immediately order to pull them out. She did so, leaving Alfie in great, great pain, more pain than he had ever felt. But I cannot show any spoilers. Only a few more freakish hints before you read the book yourself..
..There was somebody replacing innocent kids' teeth with revolting stuff..
..An interfering old bag tries to send Alfie to the dentist again and again..
..And finally, something happens to Dad I must not tell of..
..Read the book to find out more..
Show More
to read Walliams' next ones.Short twelve-year-old Alfie was an ordinary little boy who led an ordinary life. His father had been confined to a wheelchair after having coal pulled up in his lungs in his young job as a miner. Alfie had to look after him by himself, for his mother died when he was only a little baby.
One day, when Alfie was out at school, the school dentist, Mr Erstwhile, had 'apparently stabbed himself with his own equipment', and a new, rather creepy looking woman, Mr Root, had taken his place. She would have probably broken the World Record of the creepiest look and the shiniest teeth, for everybody was dazzled by them.
Alfie hadn't been to the dentist for six years, for when he had had tooth ache, Mr Erstwhile had indeed used all his force to pull out the tooth causing it. But was it the causing tooth? Oh no. He had pulled out the wrong one. And when Alfie realised this, he started hiding stacks of dentist letters up on the pantry shelf, where no one could find them.
When Miss Root saw his rotten teeth, she immediately order to pull them out. She did so, leaving Alfie in great, great pain, more pain than he had ever felt. But I cannot show any spoilers. Only a few more freakish hints before you read the book yourself..
..There was somebody replacing innocent kids' teeth with revolting stuff..
..An interfering old bag tries to send Alfie to the dentist again and again..
..And finally, something happens to Dad I must not tell of..
..Read the book to find out more..
Show Less
LibraryThing member Sheila1957
This is one of the funniest books I have read. Alfie takes care of his dad who can no longer work in the mines because of his health. It's just Alfie and Da. A dentist moves into town and comes to school for a lecture. She studies all the children's teeth. A social worker, Winnie, has been assigned
I laughed throughout the book. I loved the characters especially Winnie, Raj, and Alfie. Outrageous and mysterious, it is wonderful how Alfie and Gabz find out the truth. I loved Da. There is more to him than a sick old man. He's a hero.
This is a book for everyone. It brightened my day.
Show More
to Alfie's family. She sees Alfie's teeth and makes an appointment with the new dentist. Alfie and his friend Gabz feel there is something wrong with this dentist and Alfie wants no part of dentistry (bad early experience.) And so the chase begins.I laughed throughout the book. I loved the characters especially Winnie, Raj, and Alfie. Outrageous and mysterious, it is wonderful how Alfie and Gabz find out the truth. I loved Da. There is more to him than a sick old man. He's a hero.
This is a book for everyone. It brightened my day.
Show Less
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Middle Grade — 2017)
British Book Award (Shortlist — Audiobook — 2013)
The Children's Book Award (Winner — Younger Readers — 2015)
IBBY Honour Book (2018)
Berkshire Book Award (Winner — 2014)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013
Physical description
448 p.; 5.31 inches
ISBN
0007453574 / 9780007453573
Other editions
Demon Dentist by David Walliams (Paperback)