A Smile/Una Sonrisa

Simple rhymes in English and Spanish follow a pair of raven-haired, brown-skinned siblings as they demonstrate the benefits of brushing and flossing their teeth, eating well, and visiting the dentist: “Every six months is just about right,/ to show I am careful and keep my teeth white!” The brother and sister are vehicles for proper dental hygiene, without any personalities to speak of, limiting the book’s usefulness to dentists’ waiting rooms or, perhaps, for parents hoping to instill better dental habits in their children. Unfortunately, the clunky, repetitive rhymes (“It is ok to have some treats—/ but not any good to eat too many sweets”) and generic cartoons don’t do much to make that message terribly attractive. Ages 3–5. (Oct.)