Ollie’s second front tooth had fallen out. He didn’t want money for his tooth from the Tooth Fairy this time, he asked for a pet lizard. When he awoke in the morning a glass tank was by his bed and inside was a Chameleon. Ollie called his new pet Haffiness (because he couldn’t pronounce the letter P with no front teeth).

For the first few days, Ollie looked after his pet, feeding him, singing to him. Then one night he forgot to close the lid properly and he was in such a rush the next morning that he forgot to feed the Chameleon. When he returned from school he noticed the tank was empty. Haffiness had escaped which made Ollie sad.

Will Ollie be able to find his pet Chameleon and be happy again?

Ollie’s Haffiness is a lovely book about a young boy who dreams of having a pet lizard and when his tooth falls out he hopes that the Tooth Fairy will bring him one. When she does he is the happiest boy ever, but when his pet escapes Ollie is so unhappy and he searches high and low for it with no luck.

The illustrations are divine and bring the story to life, especially with Ollie’s expressions. Haffiness is also hiding in some of the illustrations so you have to look closely. I didn’t see them the first time and had to go back and find them.

The story is very cute and will put a smile on a child’s face. I just hope all children don’t start asking for pets instead of money from the Tooth Fairy or her job will be a lot harder!!

Riya Aarini’s latest work is her Carefree Ollie series, written for an early reader audience (ages 5-7). Ollie’s Backpack is Book One in the series, with Book Two following in the Fall of 2020. Stay tuned for more inspiring children’s books!