Chomp!

★ “ An excellent resource that lends a lively, humorous tone to a straightforward topic.” – SLJ, STARRED review

“Even readers with no interest in brushing up on the topic will be won over as Cantin energetically compares our teeth to those of sharks, elephants, venomous snakes, and other creatures while digging into topics ranging from types and colors of teeth to the purposes of retainers and nighttime mouthguards and the ins and outs of wisdom teeth” - Kirkus

“I appreciated the breadth of topics covered, with the author managing to take such a broad subject and condense it into a relatively digestible format. Likewise, the illustrator does a lovely job of creatively using muted colors, which makes the subject more approachable, particularly calming patrons anxious about going to the dentist” - Youth Services Book Review

“This is a fun mix between a normal, dentist approach to teeth, and a wider way of looking at all kinds of teeth, from the beginning of time, and from different species” - GeekDad Blog

★ SLJ (STARRED review) Cantin, Yoann. Chomp! Our Health and World in Fangs, Tusks and Teeth. illus. by Maria Marega. 64p. Helvetiq. May 2026. Tr $22.95. ISBN 9783039641116.

Gr 3-6–Learning about teeth may not seem exciting at first, but the presentation in this information-rich book will draw readers in. With a broad array of topics covered in plenty of short chapters, the colored pages are filled with frames, lists, diagrams, text boxes, and visually appealing illustrations. Some students will access the many text tools for research, while others will dip into this trove of facts for pleasure. Readers will learn that alligators lose a mouthful of teeth every year, elephant tusks can weigh 400 pounds, sea slugs have 70,000 sharp teeth, and ancient people probably used hog hair toothbrushes. On the more serious side, human teeth are named and labeled, dental professions are explained, attention is given to tools and equipment for proper hygiene, foods and drinks are suggested for dental health; sugar is identified as the culprit when it comes to cavities. Animal behaviors like gnawing and grinding are shown in contrast to humans, whose own food choices throughout history have influenced changes in the shape of our jaws. Kids who absorb the wealth of knowledge in this book will feel like they know everything there is of interest about teeth. They can prove it by taking the quiz helpfully included in the back (in library ­settings, perhaps on a separate piece of paper). VERDICT An excellent resource that lends a lively, humorous tone to a straightforward topic.–Gloria Koster

Dr. Yoann Cantin is a pediatric dentist and clinical supervisor in Geneva, specialising in children’s dental care. A father of three and former Swiss rugby champion, he combines expert care with a family-focused approach.

Maria Marega is an Italian illustrator and graphic designer based in the canton of St. Gallen. She holds a Master’s degree in illustration and graphic design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna. Maria collaborates with publishers, magazines, and NGOs, bringing creativity and professionalism to every project.

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