My Toothbrush Is Missing

The Giggle Gang #4

by Jan Thomas

Dog's toothbrush is missing. Has anybody seen it? Maybe . . . But what does a toothbrush look like? Donkey wonders. Featuring Jan Thomas’s wonderfully wacky humor, rowdy repetitions, and hilarious characters, this book is sure to have young readers laughing out loud!

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Dogs, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

Published January 16, 2018

About the author

When Jan Thomas isn't working on children's books, she's painting pictures, playing the drums, backpacking, or wrangling dust bunnies.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: My toothbrush is missing!

Premise/plot: Dog's toothbrush is missing! Will his friends help him find it. First he may have to explain exactly what a toothbrush is to Donkey. Once he does, well, Donkey is SURE he's seen it.

My thoughts: I love, love, love Jan Thomas. I do. I think she's written some crazy-funny-zany books for young readers. Some I love and adore. Some I just "really like." This early reader is in her newest series. If you've ever read a Jan Thomas book and smiled, I recommend this one. And if you're new to her work, well, this is just as good a place to start as any!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two things, didn't realize until I started reading this that it's the same author/illustrator as Rhyming Dust Bunnies, which was a favorite around here when M was little, or that this was part of a series.

My favorite of the three early readers I randomly selected! It had the strongest story, an actual conflict, and plenty of humor, both situational and with the illustrations. Speech bubbles are employed for the characters' speech, large font and leading, although I wondered about the bold text and its significance. Would that confuse readers? Is it for emphasis? Also, the potentially confusing word bristles was well depicted with Fat Cat and his bristly whiskers providing context clues.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jan Thomas does it again.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another funny and cute book by Jan Thomas. I saw this performed with puppets and it works really well in that format.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would work for storytime.

[Brighton Hulsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was funny, I like donkey. He was too silly. And ducky was upside down.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dog's toothbrush is missing. I can see the child appeal, I just think it has been done before and was not that original.

Confusion which the child is in on.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watch out Elephant and Piggie, these Jan Thomas books are as hilarious as you are!

[Aliza Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very Mo Willems feel to this new series. Fans of Elephant and Piggie will love it!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas, Jan My Toothbrush is Missing EARLY READER Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. $9.99 Content: G.

Dog is looking for his missing toothbrush. He explains that it has bristles, a long handle and is red. Donkey says he doesn’t know what a toothbrush is, but tries to help Dog find it and takes him to see a cat (bristly), a broom (long handle) and a red egg beater (red). Dog thanks Donkey for trying to help and then Donkey starts to scrub his hooves with Dog’s toothbrush. It is agreed that Dog needs a new toothbrush.

I love Jan Thomas’ early reader books because of their humor. I love the way the story line develops and the cute facial expressions of the characters. This book does have some harder words for new readers: bristles, bristly, whiskers and scrubbing.

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Michelle]

One of the best things for young readers is to have a favorite series. Or a couple. The sense of comfort when seeing familiar characters in new situations helps ease beginning reader's qualms. The predictability of an author's pace, style, and sense of humor helps to form their growing reading taste.

This is why series books are so important for young readers. Plus, they're often lots of fun. When you think back to your own childhood, I bet you can come up with a couple series books that you read until the pages grew thin.

Jan Thomas is one of my favorite recommendations for kids starting to read independently. The print and illustrations are perfectly bold. The ensemble cast is continually funny in whatever role she assigns them. I enjoy every one of these books.

This one, in particular, will have you laughing even when you've figured out where the toothbrush is. It's short, easy, and fun.

All Jan Thomas is recommended by this children's librarian!!!

[Rockdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jan Thomas continues to be my favorite children’s book author, so I was excited to get early editions of her two new books — “My Toohbrush is Missing” and “My Friends Make Me Happy!” They do not disappoint! Both are part of a new series she’s doing, with a different layout designed for early readers. My Toothbrush is Missing tells the tale of Dog’s missing toothbrush. In typical Jan Thomas style there is considerable humor, drama, and animal frustration involved in solving this particular puzzle. The illustrations are classics Thomas, with great expression and lots of humor and fun.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly story with big kid appeal. Some words will be more difficult (bristle, whiskers) but there is repetition and picture clues. Aimed at beginning reader's, it could also be a good read aloud for younger. Good elephant and piggie read alike.

One fault is the page background is red when donkey finds something with a red handle like the toothbrush has. This makes it difficult to see the red handle. Page backgrounds vary so this could easily have been avoided. Or dog's toothbrush could have been green.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donkey offers Dog help with finding his missing toothbrush. Dog gives clues -- it has bristles, a long handle, is much smaller and has a red handle. Donkey finds candidates -- the bristly cat, the BROOM, an eggbeater. After which Donkey pulls out the nifty HOOF SCRUBBER he found, which fits the description of Dog's toothbrush, and in fact has Dog's name on it. Dog and his other friends Sheep and Duck agree that Dog needs a new toothbrush.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: This is such a fun book for young readers. It is great for those who may be forgetting to brush their teeth at night, a fun way to remind them without being nagging. It is also great for those kids just learning to read, the text is bold and simple. There is a lot of repetition and simple sight words. Kids will get such a kick out of it and will be laughing the whole time. If Munchkin was still young, I have a feeling this would be an often re-read.

[Sarah Alamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're so proud of you for reading this funny book! You learned that when we borrow something from someone, we should always ask first - just like Donkey should have asked Dog before using his toothbrush! Remember, if you want to borrow a toy or book from your friends, always ask them nicely first. That's what good friends do! You're becoming such a wonderful reader. Keep up the great work, sweetie!

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

When his toothbrush goes missing, Dog enlists his friends Donkey, Sheep and Duck to help look for it. Dog describes the toothbrush as having bristles and a long, red handle leading to humorous misunderstandings as Donkey suggests other objects that he has seen that share those attributes.
Reviewer 13

[Kifflie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dog's toothbrush is missing, and Donkey thinks he might know where it is. But he doesn't understand Dog's hints very well and leads him in the wrong direction, until the toothbrush turns up in an unexpected place. This is a very funny story, although I think it works a little bit better as a picture book than an easy reader.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jan Thomas' characters! A group of friends helps Dog find his toothbrush. He describes the toothbrush to Donkey who does not know what a toothbrush is. Donkey takes them to other things that match that description. Eventually, Donkey gives up looking and grabs his hoof brush to clean his hooves. Funny. His hoof brush has Dog's name on it!

Good for preschool storytimes.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess this book was cute. It didn’t quite deliver in sending me into a fit of laughter like I was promised. Admittedly, I am not exactly the intended audience. However, my three year old didn’t laugh either. In fact, her comment as soon as the book was over was, “Can we read elephant and piggie now?” Poor everyone who is not Mo Willems. You just can’t compete.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jan Thomas is just fun. I can always guarantee her books will be a funny storytime read aloud. My Toothbrush Is Missing is great for teachers and librarians. Teachers could use it for descriptive writing introduction, and librarians could use it for background knowledge or abstract thinking.

Fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahahahaha! This one will make your listeners laugh out loud! Dog is missing his toothbrush and every feature of it that he describes gives Donkey another idea of where it might be. Each suggestion a little more ridiculous than the last, adults and children alike will appreciate this fun story. A fantastic group read aloud for preschool and lower elementary age kids.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jan Thomas is a story time staple. This book is targeted at the earliest of early readers, with its short, repeated sentences and controlled vocabulary. But the questions and visual clues also make it an engaging read with the preschool set. One class I read it to even solved the mystery of Dog’s missing toothbrush before we finished the story!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite of the four readers so far. It's expressive and donkey has the four of them running this way and that way while in their eyes you can see they have mega doubts about donkey being right. And duck just always says, Quack!

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these first readers by Jan Thomas. They are perfect for kids just learning to read. Lost of repetition of words, images support the text, and the humor is just right for a first through third grader. Elephant and Piggie fans who need something new will appreciate these books.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Jan Thomas I love your books! Thank you for making my job to help kids enjoy reading easy.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this today on my phone while riding the bus. I had to read the first set up and punch line to my cousin who was sitting beside me. We ended up giggling. (This was before the concert and adult beverages) I am absolutely infatuated with this goofy series.

[Amy Oberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another title in the series that does not disappoint! The concise dialogue and reoccurring use of the adjective "weird" make this a laugh-out-loud story, well-suited to reading aloud to elementary audiences. Clever and refreshing.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has anyone seen Dogs toothbrush? It has a long handle, bristles and is red. Anyone? Hey Donkey, what's that you're cleaning your hooves with?

Children will truly enjoy the silliness of this new easy reader from the Giggle Gang.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

2/16/2019 ~ The Giggle Gang - read these books because you know you want to smile. Terrific books for fans of Elephant and Piggie. I can't wait to hear the groans of readers as they realize what's happening with the toothbrush.