The Crocodile and the Dentist

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.)

PreS-Gr 2--This crowd-pleaser from Gomi will have children and adults laughing out loud at the clever use of mirrored dialogue to convey two different points of view. The premise is simple and relatable: a crocodile dreads his dentist visit, and the dentist isn't exactly thrilled about working on such a dangerously toothy patient. This dynamic plays out entirely within the identical internal monologues of the two characters. Gomi is a master of showing rather than telling, leaving ample room for readers' interpretation as the crocodile and the dentist come face to face, with poses and facial expressions that echo each other. This slim volume is an effective springboard for assuaging children's anxiety about dentist visits, and also invites a broader conversation about recognizing emotions in others. Gomi's trademark watercolor artwork is bold, expressive, and colorful, and the text is straightforward and minimalist, conveying a great deal in just a few words and brush strokes. VERDICT A solid first purchase for most picture book collections.--Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA