Jenny Greenteeth

Annette Lindsay was a special education teacher in Toronto.

Jenny is a water witch who lives in the Beaches beside Lake Ontario. Her blood-red eyes, slimy teeth, and long tangled hair terrify the children so much they flee the lake for the local pool, which soon becomes overcrowded. The mayor issues a warrant for Jenny’s capture. Everyone fails until young David arrives with a solution, a secret weapon. He shows her how to brush her teeth till they sparkle (dentists will love this resolution). The townspeople venture a bit closer to Jenny’s rickety porch as they watch David encourage Jenny to return to her old occupation (swimming coach to the children of the community) as a way of finding company. The swim team, called the Beaches Water Witches, of course win every meet they enter.

Jenny was ugly and scary as a recluse. She becomes cute and engaging when she moves into the middle-class milieu. This tale, the charming illustrations notwithstanding, appears to be a lesson in conformity. If you want to be loved, you must look attractive and behave according to community expectations.