Last Updated on October 29, 2018 by HodgePodgeDays
Getting my son to brush his teeth is one of life’s great challenges. I’ve tried both the carrot and the stick and nothing, absolutely nothing could persuade him to brush his teeth. I did wonder if a story about a crocodile who had to go to the dentist might somehow encourage him, but only time will tell. This week we’ve been reading The Crocodile and the Dentist by Taro Gomi.
The Crocodile has a toothache but he’s afraid of the dentist. The dentist wants to help, but he’s afraid of the crocodile. The Crocodile and the Dentist soon learn to be brave and face their fears.
The Crocodile and the Dentist is a lovely, easy to read story with lots of repetition which I know from my own son, children like. This book is aimed at children aged 3-5 years and it’s a simple story that they will enjoy. I know I enjoyed it, especially the mirroring thoughts from both Crocodile and Dentist.
Author, Taro Gomi originally wrote and published this story in Japan in 1984. His style of illustration is eye-catching areas of textured colour on top of simple drawings. Taro Gomi one of Japan’s most successful children’s book illustrators, having illustrated over 400 children’s books over the years.
The Crocodile and the Dentist is full of simple humour and empathy. You can empathise with the Crocodile who has all of those teeth to look after, and the Dentist who has to look after all of those teeth.
It ends with a reminder to brush your teeth. You might escape a visit to the dentist if you do!
The Crocodile and the Dentist by Taro Gomi costs £12.99 in hardback. It’s published by Chronicle Books and it is available from a wide range of bookshops including Amazon.