Book Review By Amy Cody, RDH Managing Editor, Hygienetown Magazine

Whether you have small children of your own, or just pediatric patients, the book Alvin the Alligator Learns a Lesson: A Story About Brushing and Flossing Teeth, will bring laughter and fun to the message of how important it is to establish good oral hygiene practices at a young age. Humor is combined with brightly colored illustrations in this book, providing a great resource to dental professionals and parents.

Alvin the Alligator Learns a Lesson, written by Donna Weatherford and illustrated by Lori Campbell, tells the tale of Alvin the Alligator and how he learns about the importance of brushing and flossing. The book touches on several points, including brushing, flossing, nutrition and telling the truth.

As the story begins, Alvin is told to come in from playing in the swamp so he can get ready for bed – which includes brushing his 78 teeth. Alvin’s mother warns him about cavities, which he shrugs off, thinking he would never get a cavity. Feeling that it takes too much time and energy to clean his teeth, he merely pretends to brush and floss that night. Along with Alvin’s poor dental hygiene, the next day he trades his healthy lunch for sugary snacks.

One day, Alvin wakes up in pain, which, of course, turns out to be a cavity. What happens next? Does Alvin decide to deal with the pain and let it get worse? Or does he come clean to his mother and finally learn how to properly care for his mouth?

The author, Donna Weatherford is a children’s book writer from Atoka, Tennessee. While writing this book she used her own dental office as inspiration and even named Dr. Cohengator after her dentist, Dr. Cohen.

To help communicate the message of her books, Weatherford has also written a question and answer guide to reinforce key points. She and her 10-year-old daughter, Holly, share the children’s stories she writes with pre-schoolers and put on puppet presentations. Weatherford created Alvin the Alligator Learns a Lesson to help children remember the importance of good oral health. Currently she is working on her next book, I am Special, which will help children develop a healthy self esteem.

The illustrator, Lori Campbell is an elementary and middle school visual arts teacher in Memphis, Tennessee. She is currently working on illustrations with Weatherford for another book titled, Ginger Giraffe Learns a Lesson.

An excerpt from the book is available to view on www.amazon.com. Alvin the Alligator Learns a Lesson is an excellent book for hygienists or parents to read to young children. It not only teaches good oral hygiene habits at a young age, but also explains the importance of good nutrition and honesty. The easy-to-read format and colorful illustrations will bring fun and amusement to children of all ages.

At A Glance

Alvin the Alligator Learns a Lesson By Donna Weatherford Book $10 Question and Answer Guide $2 Shipping and Handling $3 Available on www.amazon.com or send a check or money order to: Donna Weatherford 763 Tracy Road Millington, TN 38053 901-837-7319