Chomp! Our Health and World in Fangs, Tusks and Teeth

Gr 3-6–Learning about teeth may not seem exciting at first, but the presentation in this information-rich book will draw readers in. With a broad array of topics covered in plenty of short chapters, the colored pages are filled with frames, lists, diagrams, text boxes, and visually appealing illustrations. Some students will access the many text tools for research, while others will dip into this trove of facts for pleasure. Readers will learn that alligators lose a mouthful of teeth every year, elephant tusks can weigh 400 pounds, sea slugs have 70,000 sharp teeth, and ancient people probably used hog hair toothbrushes. On the more serious side, human teeth are named and labeled, dental professions are explained, attention is given to tools and equipment for proper hygiene, foods and drinks are suggested for dental health; sugar is identified as the culprit when it comes to cavities. Animal behaviors like gnawing and grinding are shown in contrast to humans, whose own food choices throughout history have influenced changes in the shape of our jaws. Kids who absorb the wealth of knowledge in this book will feel like they know everything there is of interest about teeth. They can prove it by taking the quiz helpfully included in the back (in library ­settings, perhaps on a separate piece of paper).