YOU CAN'T PUT BRACES ON SPACES

As tooth braces are not worn at the beginning-to-read age, Richter and Numeroff focus here on a little brother who wishes he too could wear them because they ""make you look older."" The young narrator goes along with Mom and eleven-year-old Neff while Neff gets X-rayed and fitted for his; then, later, the whole family--""even my father""--goes to the dentist's conference room for a briefing. Once Neff is fixed up Mom decides that she will get braces too, to straighten out her crooked front teeth--but, for the time being, the narrator must make do with make-believe braces of aluminum foil. Presuming that attitudes learned at six or seven will hang on till twelve or so, the authors do a fine PR job for orthodontists--but, as long as this is a set-up anyway, why project the sexist stereotypes with male Dr. Sherman, his female nurse, and housewife Mom reading Ladies' Home. . . in the waiting room?