Open Wide: Tooth School Inside

By Laurie Keller

From the author/illustrator of The Scrambled States of America, here is Laurie Keller's fun-filled introduction to teeth.

"Before the principal's announcements, will you all please stand and recite our pledge: 'I pledge allegiance to this mouth and to the dentist who takes care of us. And to the gums on which we stand, strong and healthy, with toothbrushes and toothpaste for all.'"

In Open Wide, it's time for tooth school and Dr. Flossman is excited to meet the incoming class of 32--eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, and twelve molars, including the four wisdom teeth. There's just so much to learn--from brushing and flossing to dentin and pulp to every student's nightmare: tooth decay!

Best read with a toothbrush in hand, this hilarious book is full of interesting facts (for instance, George Washington's teeth were not made of wood, despite popular belief) and a classroom full of quirky characters. Young readers will laugh their way to a better appreciation for those pearly whites that beckon them to brush. And from there it's just a short hop to flossing.

This title has Common Core connections.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Jul 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781466819399

Laurie Keller

Laurie Keller is the bestselling author-illustrator of many books for kids, including Do Unto Otters; Potato Pants!; The Scrambled States of America; the Geisel Award-winning We Are Growing!; and Arnie the Doughnut, as well as three books in the Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut chapter book series. Growing up in Michigan, Laurie always loved to draw, paint and write stories. She earned a B.F.A. at Kendall College of Art and Design, then worked at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City as a greeting card illustrator for seven years. One night, the idea for a children’s book popped into her head and after showing the story to several publishers in New York City, she quit her job and moved there. The following year, that story idea was a published book—The Scrambled States of America. Laurie loved living in NYC, but she returned to her home state, where she lives in the woods along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Book preview

[Kyle Glazener · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is Wonderful information about teeth for young and old, alike!

[epalaz_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is great for learning about healthy teeth by entertwining it with daily school activities. The illustrations appear to be drawn by a child and the texts read are very funny. I would use this in health class when talking about hygiene and the human teeth.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dentistry has never looked more fun!

[oapostrophe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Super fun informational book about teeth and dental hygiene.

[kwilliams1354 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I felt that this was a very informative book. I felt the story line was very clever and that it was written in a way that students would find interesting and be able to understand. Overall I felt this book was an easy read wand very eye catching. A must need for classrooms with younger children.

[amork_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside by Laurie Keller uses a classroom setting to teach basic information about teeth. This book would best be suited for 4th and 5th graders based on the vocabulary used in the text. Keller uses the similarity between students reading the book to teeth students who undergo the same school setting. Children learn about teeth: how many there are in your mouth, what the different kinds are called, what the difference between primary teeth and permanent teeth are and what keeps teeth healthy. The teeth students take attendance, listen to morning announcements, do reports on teeth, have lunch and recess, read in textbooks and question prior knowledge that they have about teeth and dentists.
Laurie Keller uses creative strategies to keep students reminded that they are reading a book about school. Many of her pages are on different types of paper: graph paper and yellow and white notebook paper. Keller's illustrations are bright and plentiful on each page. Many of the teeth students make comments during the dentist's (teacher's) lectures and these comments add lighthearted humor to the pages. Keller also adds a “true or false” and “multiple choice” quizzes at the end of the book to reinforce the information taught. There is also a “Handy Teeth Chart” on the front and back of the book that shows the average adult mouth and labels each tooth inside.
Open Wide: Tooth School Inside examines something that children use everyday, their mouth and teeth. Learning how to keep it healthy is important and Keller teaches the information in a way that is entertaining as well as informative. Although the text might be a little difficult for early elementary, reading together with a family member for middle elementary and older elementary levels will enjoy this book..

[allawishus_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of Keller's most adorablest. I love all the little expressions on the teeth and their cute "pants." As usual, all the illustrations are jam packed with teeny tiny details so you have to spend about 5 minutes going over each page to make sure you don't miss anything. It's worth it because she makes it so much fun. Also, I learned some stuff about teeth!