Anita MacRae Feagles wrote and illustrated The Tooth Fairy. I checked out the little hard cover book from the Rockford Public Library more than any other book. In my thirties when my first child lost her first tooth I became obsessed with finding this tiny book again and hadn't a clue who wrote or illustrated it I just remembered the fairy illustrations and how the book made me feel all happy about loosing my teeth. I google searched through thousands of images over several weeks until I found it.
I get that little book out and read it on the very night The Tooth Fairy will visit our house, just before bed. We'll read it tonight. It's simple and charming and it's The Tooth Fairy I've always known my whole life. She's a city fairy. She has a house and a job and throws parties and I imagine she drives a little hatch back car when she's not traveling by magic. Some of these facts weren't in the book they were just part of what I imagined in my head.
"Anita MacRae Feagles, of Vero Beach, Fla., and Fishers Island, N.Y.,
died on March 14 2008, with her husband, Robert Feagles, at her side.
She was born in Chicago, the only child of Cuyler and Anita MacRae.
She was raised in Chappaqua, N.Y. She received a bachelor's degree
from Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., where she was a member of the Pi
Beta Phi sorority, and an master's in education at City College of New
York. She was a member of the Junior League of Mt. Kisco, N.Y.
Following her marriage to Robert Feagles, an international banker, she
lived for two years in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before they returned to
Chappaqua. She had four children and became a prolific writer,
publishing 20 books, mostly for children. She accompanied her husband
on numerous international trips, and was able to do research in
Mexico, England, Spain and Iceland, which led to books set there.
They lived in London for two years, and later moved to Hartford. They
have also maintained a residence on Fishers Island for over 25 years.
She is survived by her husband and three children, Cuyler, of
Freeport, Maine, Priscilla Hammond, of Lyme, and Patrick, of Vero
Beach. Her oldest daughter, Wendy Harwood, predeceased her. She also
leaves behind seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to writing, she worked as an ombudsman in the Connecticut
prison system, as instructor in English at Indian River Community
College, and as a Guardian Ad Litem in the Florida 19th District Court
System.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Humane Society of Vero
Beach, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 in memory of Mrs. Feagles."
