Teeth Are Not for Biting
By: Elizabeth Verdick
Illustrated By: Marieka Heinlen
Publication: April 15, 2003 by Free Spirit Publishing
24 pages
Genre: Children's Literature, Picture Books, Parenting
Goodreads description--“Crunch crunch crunch. Teeth are strong and sharp. Crunch crunch crunch. Teeth can help you chew. But teeth are not for biting. Ouch! Biting hurts.” Sooner or later, almost all young children will bite someone—a friend, a parent, a sibling. This upbeat, colorful, virtually indestructible book helps prevent biting and teaches positive alternatives. Teeth Are Not for Biting gives reasons why children might want to bite. Little mouths feel sore when new teeth come in; sometimes kids bite when they’re hungry, tired, cranky, frustrated, angry, bored, distressed, or seeking attention. Author Elizabeth Verdick suggests positive things children can do instead of chew a chewy toy, drink a cold drink, get a hug, tell a grown-up. This book also includes helpful tips for parents and caregivers. Best Behavior® Series Simple words and lively full-color illustrations guide children to choose positive behaviors.
We have been studying manners in our homeschool. So when I saw Teeth Are Not for Biting for review, I grabbed it. My older children don't have any issues with biting, but occasionally my youngest will bite. It isn't often, but when he does it he goes all in. The content in Teeth Are Not for Biting is best suited for smaller children (under the age of 4).
I liked how the book starts off with how teeth are strong and sharp and used for eating. This establishes that teeth are good and used for a purpose. Then the title phrase is used in addition to the phrase "Ouch! Biting hurts." This phrase is used repetitively throughout the book to drive home this point. Teeth are again presented in a positive light for the child by telling the child that they will have more teeth as they grow. Children always want to be bigger than they are, so this gives them something to look forward to. Instead of first addressing that children feel angry and choose to bite, I like that the idea of the child's mouth hurting when new teeth are coming in. This offers up the idea that biting might be comforting to the child and not something done out of bad behavior. But then the title phrase and subsequent line is repeated. Suggestion are offered on how the child might soothe their mouths without biting others. After this the behavior issue is addressed that biting might be used when a child feels sad or angry, etc. The title phrase is repeated and the suggestions on what to do instead are again offered. And then last of all, the scenario is presented that maybe another child bites you and how to handle that. Finally, teeth are presented as being for the purpose of smiling--wrapping things up with another positive.
All in all, I think Teeth Are Not for Biting gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Teeth Are Not for Biting? What did you think? Let me know!
