Teeth they are very handy!!!

The Tooth Book by Theo LeSieg (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) and illustrated by Roy McKie is one of the Bright and Early Beginning Beginners Books published by Beginner Books , a division of Random House. This is a 39 page hard back book, I don’t believe they have these books in soft back, which we got through the Grolier book club so I am not sure what it sells for in the stores.

Let me start by saying I think Dr. Seuss did better work under that pen name than under the Theo LeSieg pen name. However, this is still a good book for the youngsters. We received the book when my son was 2 years olds. He loved the book back then and he would dig it out up until his 5th birthday. He puts it to the side now. So as I said it is a good colorful book for the young toddlers. It helps in getting them interested in reading with the big and bright illustrations.

The book starts out by asking the question, Who has teeth? Of course it proceeds to tell you that redheaded uncles do, policemen, zebras and unicycle riders all have teeth. This covers the first three pages of the book. As you progress through the book you find out that camels and their drivers have teeth, as well as, little girls named Ruthie.

“Teeth you find them everywhere!” Mountaintops, in the air, even underground if you want to dig around to find out. As you keep going you discover teeth are found in the east, west, north, and south. You can find teeth in a lion’s mouth. This page has a picture of a lion tamer sticking his head in the lion’s mouth. This particular illustration for some reason really tickles my funny bone. I think it’s the expression on the lion tamers face that gets to me.

The next section tells you teeth are in style and must be worthwhile. Following you meet the Driscoll family all of which have teeth. They say they come in handy when you want to chew. After the Driscoll’s you meat Sam the smiling crocodile. Mike McCobb states without his teeth he would lose his wife. The illustration is of circus acrobats swinging in the air by their teeth.

The next section tell of news broadcaster Quicy Queek who states if he didn’t have teeth the news would sound like ducks with only quacks and klucks. Now you meet poor Simon Sneeth the snail who is unhappy because he can’t smile like Sam the crocodile because he has no teeth. Pam the clam doesn’t either and she misses not being able to eat hot dogs or ham. Poor Jimbo Jones the jellyfish can’t play the trombone without teeth. Hilda Hen states she doesn’t have any teeth but women and men do. She further explains that you will have two sets of teeth. Set one you will lose but set two will grow in and those are all the teeth you will ever have.

Since they are the only teeth you will ever have the section gives you some don’ts to help keep your teeth. Don’t chew down trees or break your teeth untying knots. You shouldn’t chew off bottle tops or gobble junk.

The book winds up by saying teeth sure are handy so keep them around for a while. The final page tells you not to bite your dentist to bite carrot sticks instead.

Of course, the book rhymes throughout and the illustrations go well with the story. It is a good book as I mentioned earlier to help kids get interested in reading. It also can help the parent discuss good oral hygiene with their youngster. If you can start good habits at a young age it will be a blessing later.

I recommend this book for it’s fun and possible educational value. So even though I don’t think it’s the best work of Theodore Geisel it is worth adding to your child’s library.