Meet Our Fabulous Author Edie Higby ( The Tooth Fairy)
Q: First tell us something about yourself?
I am the owner and creator of “The Tooth Fairy Company” and the author of; “10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy”. I received my B.A. degree from Whitworth University. I have over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, specializing in child development and family service.
I am a certified Happiness Coach and currently completing my Masters program in The Science of Wellbeing and Happiness Health Studies. My favorite things are teaching kids about their Smiles & Kindness, and teaching adults about Joy & Happiness Health.
I am very passionate about my role in public health service. I BELIEVE that the magical message of the “Tooth Fairy” is far more than just about brushing your teeth. The Tooth Fairy’s message is also about sharing your smile, having courage, being kind and how to have HAPPY and healthy self-thought talk.
Q: How and when did your journey start as a writer?
I’ve always been a creative thinker and have had a strong passion for writing. I landed my first professional piece in a national children’s magazine for early childhood professionals, the article was called; “Tips From The Tooth Fairy”. I have been in the field of early childhood education for over 20 years! As a teacher and seasoned educator, I understood early on the profound impact that a healthy smile can have on a child’s confidence, self-esteem, language, behavior and overall well-being. I also knew serving some of the most vulnerable populations nationwide that we had a crisis on our hands with limited resources that were available to families and a lack of access to dental care. When I heard the story about the Demonte Driver Death From a Toothache: The Story of Deamonte Driver and Where We Stand Today in Ensuring Access to Dental Health Care for Children in the District – O’Neill : O’Neill (georgetown.edu) I knew that something needed to be done about children’s oral health and childhood tooth decay disease. One community outreach and education event I dressed as the Tooth Fairy! I also said I wasn’t going to hand out candy, I was going to hand out toothbrushes. I got a dentist to sponsor the event and I knew right away the Tooth Fairy had a magical place when educating oral health concepts in a fun, innovative and creative way.
Q: When did you write your first story? Is it published or not?
I wrote 10 Tips From The Tooth Fairy in 2017. It took me almost 2 years to find an illustrator that could bring her to life the way I had hoped and dreamed. And then of course COVID hit. But, I finally had the time to work on my passion project! In the fall of 2020, we got the Final Illustrations, a Coloring Activity Book and BookMarks to match. The first published version of 10 Tips- came out Feb. 2021.
Yes! The book is published and available at Barnes & Noble (hardback) and Amazon (paperback).
Q: Tell us something more about your books?
The Rainbow in the book is symbolic of representing ALL children of ALL communities, ALL races, ALL colors and ALL cultures. EVERY SMILE Matters! And children can write the Tooth Fairy and send their letters to the Magic Mailbox on the back of the book!
Q: Why do you choose kids as your reader? Is there any specific reason?
I mean, littles are my whole life! I’ve dedicated my whole livelihood and career to teaching them and their families in some way, in hopes of making their lives better in some way. Empowering children and parents by giving them tools and resources to better their lives, changes the world. I couldn’t think of a better thing to teach a child about than the importance of their smile, being brave, being kind and believing in the magic of YOU!
Q: How did these stories and characters come to your mind?
Well, the Tooth Fairy has always been a teacher! When I couldn’t find the book I was looking for to read to my kids, I thought I was going to write it myself from the Tooth Fairy’s perspective. I knew it would be a good approach for kids to get excited about when they lose a tooth and for parents and teachers to talk to kids about proper brushing routines. I took all the “Tips”’ I had learned from community health programs and dentists over the years about oral health concepts and I wanted to deliver it differently. There is a fear attached to going to the dentist. So, I combined all the Tips into 10 Tips, from going to the dentist by 1st tooth or 1st birthday to nutrition and of course brushing and flossing! And as a preschool teacher, I knew a story coming from the Tooth Fairy was something very special. We all know that Tooth Fairy is a magical part of childhood. And there was no book out there about the Tooth Fairy and how to teach oral health literacy in a fun and engaging way. Now we finally have a book we’ve all been waiting for, from the Tooth Fairy herself!
Q: Do you want to leave any message for your readers?
Yes! Oral health is the most chronic childhood disease that we have in American today. It is the #1 Absenteeism from school and one of the top 3 reasons we enter a child into an emergency room under the age of 5 yrs. Old. Even death can occur from an untreated oral health infection. And it’s totally preventable. But the Tooth Fairy’s message is SO much more than just about brushing your teeth, it’s also about kindness, caring, sharing and connection. SMILES MATTER!!
My BIG dream is to fly a Tooth Fairy Balloon down the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade one day. And to run a National Public Health Campaign in fighting tooth decay similar to Smokey the Bear in fighting forest fires. We even named our new puppy, Macy Day Parade.
