Book: Dentists Are No Big Deal
By Debbie Kesslering and Ashley Vercammen
Published by Home Style Teachers
Review by Shelley A. Leedahl
Dentists Are No Big Deal is the newest title in Ashley Vercammen’s No Big Deal children’s series, co-written with Viceroy author Debbie Kesslering. Vercammen, a registered behaviour technician, builds the series on her belief that “with practice, some scary things can become no big deal.”
The book follows Nora, a cheerful, bespectacled girl preparing for a dental visit. With her father’s help — and the encouragement of her bright red teddy bear, Rosie — she rehearses the appointment using a toy dental kit. Protective glasses make her feel “like a rock star,” the moving chair is “like a ride at the park,” and even fluoride treatment becomes fun when she picks bubble gum flavour.
By the time Nora heads to the clinic, she knows what to expect and discovers the visit is, indeed, no big deal.
Bright illustrations, upbeat dialogue and playful similes make this story engaging and reassuring. It’s also a practical tool for parents wanting to ease children’s dental anxiety while promoting good oral hygiene.
The book is available at local bookstores and through SaskBooks at www.skbooks.com.