Brown is so skilled at crafting plots that children will enjoy, and he handles both fun and tough topics in a genuine manner that resonate with kids. Children can identify with Arthur, and love to read his adventures. Kids (and adults!) love Arthur because he is just a normal kid with common problems. While this book does not address how to deal with the aforementioned problems that arise, it may be a good book to begin a discussion with children on any of the topics. Because of it, he is teased by his friend Francine, and even alienated when she declares that only kids who have lost a tooth can participate in a game of 'tooth fairy.' However, Francine accidentally knocks on Arthur's very loose tooth, and the book ends happily. In this Arthur book, Marc Brown tackles some tough issues-teasing, alienation, and 'late blooming.' Arthur is the only one of his classmates that has yet to lose a tooth. Reiterate why brushing teeth and flossing is important. Have each student glue the teeth on their 'mouth' to represent their own mouths. In small groups, have a pre cut out mouth made out of construction paper, with white construction paper teeth on the table.

LE: As a classroom, we would be discussing teeth, and why it's important to brush your teeth and floss. It also shows that bullying and making fun of someone is not nice and to stand up to them. It's a good book because it shows children that everyone matures at different rates, and just because you might be behind everyone else, eventually it will happen to you at your own pace. As he pushes himself off the ground, he smiles and has a gap in his teeth from where his tooth fell out. Well in the end, Francine, the girl who has been calling him a baby, accidentally bumps into him. He wiggles it in class, he eats corn and steak for dinner, he even goes to the dentist, who tells him it's perfectly normal for Arthur to still have all his teeth. He is determined to lose his tooth, so he tries everything to do so. He feels embarrassed and like a baby because of his full set of teeth, and it doesn't help that other students are making fun of him for that. Arthur is seven years old and in elementary school, and he is the only one in his class that hasn't lost a tooth yet. 'Arthur's Tooth' is in a series of Arthur books by author Marc Brown.

Arthur's Tooth by Marc Brown