Both Sides Now! The Crocodile and the Dentist by Tara Gomi

Crocodile has a toothache.

Dentist fixes teeth.

It's time for the two to get together. But they both have a problem. Croc has a mouth full of scary teeth. Dentist has a room full of scary instruments.

"I'm SCARED!," thinks Crocodile.

"I'm SCARED!" thinks Dentist.

After all, who isn't a little fearful of dentistry? It can hurt.

After all, Crocodile has a mouthful of sharp teeth. They can hurt.

Both are full of fear, but fate has thrust them together. Crocodile knows he needs his tooth fixed. Dentist knows that fixing teeth is his job.

Gingerly Dentist begins to work on Crocodile's tooth, his arm deep inside Crocodile's mouth.

"OUCH! say both, as Croc cringes and closes his mouth on Dentist's arm. But each knows that they must persevere in what has become a mutual enterprise.

And both of them screw their courage up to the sticking point, and soon the dentistry is a done deal in Tara Gomi's The Crocodile and the Dentist (Chronicle Books). It's a simple story with some deep ideas embedded in a humorous tale of characters simultaneously fearful of each other and yet with a mutual goal. While this ironically droll story may not be the best prep for a first trip to the dentist, readers will have to admire the dentist's dedication to his profession and the crocodile's good sense in this cleverly illustrated story easy enough for emergent readers to tackle on their own. And there's an underlying lesson for young ones that sometimes a little pain can prevent a bigger one in the future. Says Kirkus Reviews, "This fun (for readers) dental visit has underlying lessons of empathy, bravery, and good oral hygiene."