Sam's Science: I Know Why I Brush My Teeth

Sam learns about his teeth and why it is important to keep them clean with regular brushing, in a fun new addition to a science series for young children. By the illustrator of Cows in the Kitchen.

Sam tackles a new subject in the Sam's Science series (I Know How We Fight Germs, 1999, etc.); this time, he and his mother put their easy banter to good use in a running conversation on proper dental hygiene, as well as details about adult and baby teeth, parts of a tooth, types of teeth, and their functions. Following the formula established earlier in the series, the mother is full of information, while Sam is full of jokes; his question, ``What's the floor stuff for anyway?'' prompts her explanation of fluoride. Other related termse.g., plaque, enamel, dentin, incisorsare accentuated in bold letters within the text for easy identification. ``Holes'' in the teeth are referred to throughout, though never labeled as cavities. The importance of brushing is emphasized; flossing is not mentioned. Simply drawn diagrams of teeth fit easily into the friendly cartoon format, rendered in the colors of every toothbrush on the rack. (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.