Going to visit the dentist can make many children nervous! One great way to help with that anxiety is by making sure they know exactly what to expect, and books are a great way to do that. Here's a great collection of Books About Dentists And Teeth that we read during our Doctors And Dentists Preschool Theme Week.
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Do I Have To Go To The Dentist?: A First Look At Healthy Teeth by Pat Thomas
Do I Have To Go To The Dentist is a little bit different from the other dentist books featured here because it points out all of the things that we use our teeth for. This may help children who are reluctant to take care of their teeth! It also describes in clearly, but simply, what will happen during a visit to the dentist's office. The illustrations are all realistic and friendly, and should put your toddler's or preschooler's mind at ease.
Dentist (First Time) by Jess Stockham
While we liked the bright, clean illustrations of this book, it switches back and forth from one speaker or perspective to another without any explanation or quotation marks. My girls were still able to get the gist of it, but it was a bit confusing. The simplicity and directness of the storyline make this book suitable for toddlers, but you may want to add in your own explanations of who is saying or thinking each idea.
The Tooth Book: A Guide To Healthy Teeth And Gums by Edward Miller
Hands down, this is the best tooth book of the bunch! In a bright and crisp infographic style, this book teaches children about what teeth are made of, teeth of other animals, what teeth are used for, how to take care of our teeth, different kids of food that are good and bad for our teeth, and more! Preschoolers and elementary aged children will love this choice!
Dentists by Gaetano Capici
This is the only dentist book from our batch that features actual photographs of the dentist, dentist's office, and tools. Illustrations are great, and can help the experience seem more friendly, but real photographs can be helpful, too. This is a standard non-fiction choice that is very straightforward, for the literal minded child.
ABC Dentist by Harriet Ziefert
ABC Dentist is a typical alphabet book with a dental theme twist. Each letter of the alphabet gets its own dentist or tooth object. A is for appointment, B is for bib, and C is for cavity. You get the idea. My girls liked this choice a lot, so I recommend it for older toddlers and preschoolers.
Doctor De Soto by William Steig
Doctor De Soto is one of my favorite stories! Dr. De Soto is a little mouse dentist who, along with his wife, treat animal patients of all sizes. The don't treat animals that might want to eat them, but make an exception for a fox who is in tremendous pain from a toothache. After realizing that they may become the fox's dinner, Dr. and Mrs. De Soto are able to outsmart the fox and escape unharmed. This is a really cute story that your toddlers, preschoolers, or elementary students will enjoy.
Doctor De Soto Goes To Africa by William Steig
Doctor De Soto Goes To Africa isn't quite as charming as the original, but if you enjoyed the first one, you may want to grab this one as well. Dr. and Mrs. De Soto travel to Africa to help an elephant, but end up in a jam. Once again, they're able to escape safely! Your kids will love hearing another story about the same charming characters.
Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth by Lucy Bate
Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth was one of my very favorite books from my own childhood. Little Rabbit has a loose tooth and spends the week eating soft foods with her loose tooth and hard, crunchy foods with her other teeth. The loose tooth finally comes out in a bowl of chocolate ice cream, and Little Rabbit makes very careful preparations for the tooth fairy's visit. The warm and detailed illustrations of the rabbit family add a level of depth to Little Rabbit's thinking. The story is a bit long for a picture book, so I recommend it for preschoolers and elementary children.
Just Going To The Dentist by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter goes to the dentist and has a cavity filled. The story is told in the first person and includes having to wait in the waiting area, getting teeth cleaned, having X-rays taken, receiving a numbing shot, and getting a treat after the visit. Everything is very straightforward-- my girls especially liked that Little Critter thought the dentist's chair and tools looked like a spaceship!
Bear's Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson
We love the Bear books by Karma Wilson! In this installment, Bear has a loose tooth and his friends all help him try to yank it out. It finally comes out with a nudge from his tongue, and he leaves it for the tooth fairy. The rhyming text and sweet illustrations make this a favorite for toddler, preschoolers, or elementary children.
Throw Your Tooth On The Roof: Tooth Traditions From Around The World by Selby Beeler
In this collection of tooth traditions from around the world, you'll learn all about what children do with their baby teeth once they fall out. While there are many variations, it is certainly interesting to see certain themes that pop up all over the world. Many cultures throw their teeth on the roofs, many are taken away by mice, and many are buried under the ground. Preschoolers and elementary children will enjoy learning about how other cultures handle this childhood rite-of-passage.
Maisy, Charley, And The Wobbly Tooth by Lucy Cousins
This book might be a good choice for a younger toddler who needed to visit the dentist. Older toddlers and preschoolers can probably handle books with a bit more information. The bright colors and simple text of this Maisy book take children through a typical visit to the dentist.
The Berenstain Bears Visit The Dentist by Stan Berenstain
Brother and Sister Bear are back, this time taking us along with them to the dentist. Sister has a loose tooth, and she tags along to Brother's routine dental cleaning and exam, learning the ins and outs of how it is done. Then the dentist gently pulls her loose tooth with a piece of gauze and she gets a visit from the tooth fairy. As always, this Berenstain Bears book is thorough, helpful, and informative!
The Crocodile And The Dentist by Tar'o Gomi
This book is just plain silly. A crocodile goes to visit the dentist. The crocodile is scared of the dentist. The dentist is scared of the crocodile. Each page spread has the crocodile and the dentist thinking the exact same thing about one another. Add this book to your stack of dentist books for a bit of humor.
For more fun ideas about doctors and dentists that you can complete with your children, visit the What Can We Do With Paper And Glue Pinterest board below!
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From Other Great Bloggers
Dentists Play Dough Pretend Play from Fantastic Fun And LearningDentist Printable Pack from Royal Baloo
D is for Dentist from Life With Moore Babies
Books About Dentists For Preschoolers from Pre-K Pages
