Have you ever had that twice daily battle of trying to get kids to brush their teeth? Many parents the world over do and it can generally involve negotiations that the UN would be proud of. And then there is that the sudden discovery that a child desperately needs to do something else the moment the toothbrush appears (somehow forgotten homework becomes suddenly all-important). I have never figured out the problem kids have with brushing their teeth, but maybe the new picture book, Tushka’s Tooth Trouble by Jorge, can help.
Tushka’s Tooth Trouble is written and illustrated by Jorge and is a warm, funny and reassuring story for toddlers and preschoolers, featuring arctic animals, that turns a familiar challenge into an engaging adventure. This book doesn’t lecture or nag the reader (or listener); instead, it gently encourages good toothbrushing habits through charm, humour and a character children genuinely want to follow.
Tushka’s Tooth Trouble whisks readers off to the arctic to meet Tushka the polar bear, a lovable young polar bear cub that has a problem that every young reader can relate to – he just hates brushing his teeth! The story starts with Tushka getting out of bed and going for walk, but along the way all his friends (Pookie the penguin, Bronco the reindeer, Dita the polar bear, Vale and Marce the arctic hares) try to tell him about a very serious problem. Tushka rushes along before getting the message until Marce blurts out the honest truth, albeit not in the most polite of ways – Tushka has a STINKY mouth. This obviously upsets him, causing him to rush home and tell his best friend, Pookie the penguin.
Pookie explains to him why he has a stinky mouth, caused by not brushing his teeth and the reasons why not brushing causes problems. He tries to get to the bottom of the problem and buys him a new toothbrush and new toothpastes. Despite loving his new toothbrush and toothpaste, Tushka is still very reluctant to brush his teeth – apparently it’s BORING! (I’ve had the pleasure of hearing that before).
Pookie is desperate to help his friend and writes him a toothbrushing song that removes the boredom and gets Tushka’s teeth nice and clean, as well as getting him into a cleaning routine.
Overall, I have loved reading Tushka’s Tooth Trouble. It is a fun story about a very real issue, one that many children and parents will relate to. But rather that preach the importance of brushing your teeth twice a day it gently explains why you need to and what will happen if you don’t. But it doesn’t stop there, it also examines reasons why you might hate brushing your teeth, speaking to someone about it and taking steps to solve the issue. The issue is handled with sensitivity and a soft touch while still offering practical guidance.
The story not only examines Tushka’s toothbrushing problems, it also looks at reluctance, worry, pride and learning new routines, in a simple way that will resonate with young readers.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. Once you finish the story, there are Pookie’s Cool Facts about teeth, Tushka’s Cool Jokes, step-by-step instructions on good brushing technique and links to download charts and other fun things, including the toothbrushing song that Pookie wrote for Tushka (3 minutes long – the recommended length of time for brushing is 2 minutes, I was always told 3 growing up). Plus you also have the option to buy the Blobbies Emotional Toothbrushes, just like the one used by Tushka in the story.
Tushka’s Tooth Trouble is a wonderfully educational tale about keeping your teeth clean. It understands the reality of childhood reluctance around daily brushing and delivers its message with empathy, humour and heart. It’s a delightful, engaging story that helps children see toothbrushing not as a chore but as a simple, achievable part of growing up.
A very positive story that looks at relatable ways to encourage better brushing habits.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £10.99 (Paperback) / £2.21 (Kindle)
For more information visit icelands.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
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