IF THE DENTIST WERE AN ANIMAL

A child’s active imagination demystifies a visit to the dentist.

In the first half of this delightful, reassuring, and informative picture book, a bouncy little girl with an upbeat attitude about her impending dental appointment envisions what it would be like if her dentist turned out to be an animal: “What if I arrive and / I’m greeted with a smile / by a zebra /or a bear / or a giant / crocodile?” Many picture books seek to allay a child’s anxieties about going to a dentist or doctor; this deft mix of verbal humor, amusing illustrations, and dental hygiene tips joins those that are a cut above the rest. In this series opener, Grider, a dental hygienist, offers effervescent rhymes tailored to each animal’s characteristics. (If the dentist were a turtle “green from head to toe! / I’d bring a book to pass the time. / A turtle’s always slow.”) Morrison’s polished acrylic images of animals and diverse humans contribute charm and winsome energy. After the girl imagines a menagerie (including an octopus, a kangaroo, a fish, a lion, a dinosaur, and a frog), she reassures readers that dentists are “someone just like you and me.” She lists her dentist’s advice for healthy teeth: regular brushing and flossing, good nutrition, and checkups. The work ends with a dental-themed puzzle page, a page for drawing, and weekly charts for keeping track of flossing and brushing.

Funny and anxiety-calming; a well-crafted addition to a helpful picture-book subgenre.