Reader's Digest Australia Feb/Mar 2026

CHONA KASINGER/THE NEW YORK TIMES Dear Caden, I am writing to let you know that I have received email notification of your baby tooth that was lost, how exciting! I will stop by with a special surprise for your tooth. Remember to take very good care of your new teeth by brush- ing and flossing every night. Happy growing up! Love, The Tooth Fairy Dr. Merchant became the email tooth fairy by accident. In 2004, her boyfriend—now husband—made her a new email address that included her nickname, The Tooth Fairy, to help organize her dental school applications and keep in touch with family abroad. About three years of mun- dane emails later, Dr. Mer- chant got an unusual mes- sage. The subject line was “Calum’s tooth,” and the mes- sage was urgent. Realizing she was hearing from a frantic parent, Dr. Mer- chant decided to help. Dear Toothfairy, For two nights in a row, you have skipped Calum’s house. He will be at school today, do you think you can comewhile he’s at school? That would make him very happy! Hi Calum’s mom, I’m so sorry to have missed Calum’s tooth. I’ve been busy picking up teeth from all the other little children’s homes. It’s been a busy season for me. I’ll be sure to stop by tonight. :) Love, The Tooth Fairy She has averaged three to five emails a day in the two decades since, and she has responded to every one of them. (She asked that her email address not be published, even though she knows it’s easy enough to guess, for fear that she would be too inundated with emails to respond to each one and keep the magic alive.) 8 February/March 2026 Each note she writes is an act of reas- surance: That she can find the tooth that was accidentally swallowed or that slipped into the drain, even if it hap- pened on vacation. That she has been unusually busy and will be sure that the house in question is next on her list. That she can complete the transac- tion—typically the equivalent of a dol- lar, or maybe five—in Israeli shekels or South African rand. When she knows she won’t be able My tooth got Pullen out at the dentist today And I am excited for you to cone to my house and give me a surprise for being a brave girl I am sleeping in my mums bed tonight and my tooth is silver so you can zee it and it’s under the black pillow and it’s in a dog box wrapped in a tissue And I love you Some are more direct: If you see a purple ribbon box—don’t disturb the squishy sleeping banana inside. That is my toy and I have 10 million gazillion toys. Don’t bump into the heater. to reply to emails for a few days, she puts on the equivalent of an out-of- office note, informing anxious families that she’ll pay them a visit as soon as she can. And after she reminds each recipient to keep up their brushing and flossing, she ends each note with the same sign- off: “Happy growing up!” Most of the emails written to the tooth fairy are polite, and occasionally adoring: I’m so sorry I swallowed my tooth. And I love you. XXX OOO I trying to be as nice as I can be really I am but if I see u in person I’ll believe in u If I don’t that means u are not real I PROMISE I will not tell any one isaw u. I never ever break my promises so tom see me at 8:00pm I am trying to stay in place I must be respectful to ALL adults I tryed puting this in the kindest words I spent 50mins on trying. Tomake this message respectful I hope it is well writen and filled with respect. I just wanted to knowwhat your real name is? Do you type with your feet? readersdigest.com.au 9 Inspiration reader ’ s digest