The Crocodile and the Dentist

by Taro Gomi

Overview

Author-illustrator Taro Gomi has sold over one million books to date!

Anyone who has ever dreaded a visit to the dentist's office will appreciate this quirky and comical, one-of-a-kind picture book by best-selling Japanese author-illustrator Taro Gomi. Gomi humorously sheds light on the universal fear of dentists with playful and charming characters, uniquely illustrated to help children (and some adults) face their fears of going to the dentist's office. Gomi's humorous tale shows fear from both the dentist and patient's angles, providing a fresh perspective on fear and evoking empathy in the reader. Patients of all ages will come away from the book with a new take on what it means to see the dentist, and possibly learn some coping skills along the way.

• Light-hearted illustrations add humor
• Encourages empathy and emotional intelligence
• Children and adults learn to face their own fears

Fans of Just Going to the Dentist and The Tooth Book will love this book.

• Perfect gift for anyone with anxiety about going to the dentist
• Great way to introduce kids to the dentist
• Fun way to introduce children to empathy

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452173498
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	08/21/2018
Series:	Taro Gomi
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Taro Gomi is an internationally renowned author and illustrator who has created more than 400 books for readers of all ages, including the award-winning Over the Ocean and bestsellers Bus Stops, I Know Numbers!, My Friends, and Spring Is Here. He lives in Tokyo, Japan.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 1-A story with a dual point of view. An apprehensive crocodile must visit an equally fearful dentist. ``I must be brave...I'm so scared'' declares the croc. This sentiment is repeated by the dentist. ``Ouch!'' exclaims the croc as the dentist fills his tooth. ``Ouch!'' returns the dentist as the croc's flailing arm collides with his. The ordeal ends, and each says, ``Thank you so much. See you again next year.'' And then each thinks, ``I really don't want to see him again next year.'' The croc concludes, ``So I must never forget to brush my teeth.'' Gomi's brightly colored art on white background features appealing cartoon characters on each page. However, the inference that continued brushing will eliminate future dental visits is misleading and does young readers a great disservice.-Dot Minzer, North Barrington School, Barrington, IL

School Library Journal

A young crocodile with a toothache doesn't really want to visit the dentist, but he knows he must. His dentist is equally apprehensive about seeing the reptilian patient. Each approaches the other with a brave front that masks high anxiety. Their uneasy inner dialogues mirror each other as the boldly colored illustrations portray their strained exterior civility. When at last the tooth is successfully repaired, the crocodile promises to brush faithfully and to return next year. Originally published in Japan, Gomi's brief text and understated comic illustrations go right to the heart of children's dental phobias. Readers will be particularly amused when the dentist greets his young patient, smiling politely while armed with drill and pincers. Although very young listeners may be unnerved by the invasive procedures, slightly older children will appreciate Gomi's humorous twist on a universal fear.

Kay Weisman

★ 05/28/2018
The phrase “two sides of the same coin” aptly describes this clever, skitlike story from Gomi (I Really Want to See You, Grandma). On the left side of every spread is a crocodile with a painful cavity who doesn’t want to see the dentist—but knows he has to. On the right side is a dentist who doesn’t want to treat the crocodile—but knows he has to. As the appointment proceeds, the dialogue and art offer a mirror image: “I’m scared,” says the queasy-looking crocodile sitting down in the chair; “I’m scared,” says the dentist, clutching his stomach in anticipation of working on this patient. But both sides bravely persist, and after a mutual “ouch!” and “whew” they part with a genial bow, waiting until they’re out of each other’s earshot to add, “I don’t want to see him again.” Gomi’s protagonists are remarkably expressive: the crocodile’s snaggletoothed fearfulness is especially endearing. Some grown-ups may be tempted to use this book to teach the concept of empathy, but only one moral seems to interest the whimsically pragmatic author: “So you must remember to brush your teeth!” Ages 3–5. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"This fun (for readers) dental visit has underlying lessons of empathy, bravery, and good oral hygiene."-Kirkus Reviews

"Give this to your favorite preschooler or to her dentist." —the Mercury News

"Some grown-ups may be tempted to use this book to teach the concept of empathy, but only one moral seems to interest the whimsically pragmatic author: 'So you must remember to brush your teeth.'" -Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This crowd-pleaser will have children and adults laughing out loud." -School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2018-05-23
Crocodile has a toothache and goes to see the dentist, but each is afraid of the other.When Crocodile realizes his tooth hurts, he knows he has to go to the dentist, but he's afraid. The dentist knows he has to fix Crocodile's tooth, but he doesn't want to. They are both scared but choose to be brave and go on with the appointment. The dentist reaches into Crocodile's mouth and looks at the cavity. Crocodile accidentally bites down on the dentist's arm when he touches the sore tooth. (It's not much of a bite, as there is no evident injury.) They both decide to move forward and not get angry about being hurt. In the end, the tooth is fixed, and they are in perfect agreement that neither wants to see the other again—so both are determined that Crocodile "remember to brush [his] teeth!" Using the same words for both the doctor's and Crocodile's perspectives, Gomi shows how different people can experience the same emotions, and the characters' faces and body language emphasize those feelings. With a bold purple, teal, and brown color scheme, the illustrations are done in Gomi's trademark style. The dentist—the only human character—has dark tan skin and black hair.This fun (for readers) dental visit has underlying lessons of empathy, bravery, and good oral hygiene. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews