Fran Manushkin - Open Wide, Katie!

Katie Woo was at the zoo. She told her mom, I love the alligator. Hes so !

Look at those teeth, said Katies dad. He must need a big toothbrush.

Katie laughed. For sure!

That reminds me, said Katies mom. You are seeing the will be cleaning your teeth.

Cool, said Katie. I love Ms. Malek.

On the way to the dentist, Katie saw Haley OHara and her five brothers and sisters.

Katie told Haley, Im going to see Ms. Malek.

Haley said, Ms. Malek told us we six kids have lost thirty-five baby teeth.

Wow! Katie smiled. Thats a lot of visits from the tooth fairy.

Katie and her mom hurried to the dentists office. The waiting room was a fun place, filled with books and toys.

Ms. Malek greeted Katie with a big smile. Katie could see that Ms. Malek was a great brusher and .

Katie liked taking a ride in the big blue chair.

Now, open wide, said Ms. Malek.

Katie opened wide, like an alligator.

Ms. Malek used a tiny mirror to look at each of Katies teeth.

Looking good! she said. I dont see any .

Ms. Malek cleaned Katies teeth with a cool brush and .

Katies smile looked !

She asked Ms. Malek, How do animals clean their teeth?

Well, I know what a hippo does, said Ms. Malek.

A hippo opens her mouth and a fish swims in. He eats the food between her teeth.

Ew! said Katie.

Ill say! said Ms. Malek.

Katies dentist, Dr. Ali, looked at her teeth too. He told her, Next time we will take X-rays.

Cool, said Katie. I love how weird teeth look on X-rays!

Katie had fun picking a new toothbrush.

I want pink, she decided. And cherry toothpaste.

Katie got a toy too.

On the way home, Katie saw Pedro and JoJo. Katie told them about hippos and fish.

Ew! said JoJo.

Gross! said Pedro.

Pedro told Katie, The dentist at the zoo has to clean the tigers teeth.

Wow! said Katie. He must be brave!

The tiger is not awake, said Pedro. The dentist gives him to make him sleep.

Good idea! said Katie.

Before bedtime, Katie flossed and brushed her teeth. She smiled at herself in the mirror.

As Katies dad tucked her into bed, she said, When I grow up, maybe I will work at the zoo and clean the elephants tusks.

Wow! said Katies dad. You like to think big.

I do! agreed Katie.

She fell asleep with a big smile.

(KAV-uh-tees) holes or hollow spaces found in teeth (DEN-tist) someone who is trained in the care, treatment, and repair of teeth and the fitting of false teeth (FAB-yuh-luhss) wonderful (FIHRSS) very strong or extreme (FLAWSS-er) a person who regularly uses dental floss, a thin strand of thread used to clean between the teeth (hye-JEH-nist) a person trained to know how to clean and X-ray teeth (MED-uh-suhn) a drug or other substance used in treating illness (PAYST) a soft, creamy mixture

1. What traits make a good dental hygienist? Would you like to be a dental hygienist? Why or why not?
2. Imagine you are in charge of cleaning an animals teeth. Write a paragraph about it.
3. Taking care of your teeth is important. Make a poster that shows different ways to take care of your teeth. Be sure to draw a picture!
4. Do you like to go to the dentist? Why or why not?
5. Teeth have different parts, including enamel, crown, dentin, pulp, root, and gum. Research the parts of a tooth, then draw and label a diagram of a tooth.