牙齿一家和牙刷超人 - Chinese picture book review

A fantastical tale of bad influences and how a superhero saves the day with kicks and punches – and yes, 牙齿一家和牙刷超人 is about brushing teeth.

Looking for realistic Montessori-aligned books instead? Escape here!
If not, read on.

牙齿一家和牙刷超人 (Teeth Family and Toothbrush-Man) is written originally in Japanese by Omori Hiroko.

Right from the start Omori Hiroko’s picture book paints a trippy picture of teeth that actually moves at will in your mouth. Having fun. Just like little children.

Inside Omori Hiroko's picture book about teeth brushing. Book translated to Chinese titled - 牙齿一家和牙刷超人. — “ 有火车！” says Little P. First thing he sees on the page because… #priorities #CarObsessedBoy

It’s time to eat! Does your child like Japanese curry rice? The teeth family sit around companionably to gobble up the food. Ok.

Look at all the grubby teeth! They have curry all over them!

Enter the villains – teeth bacteria

But one day, bad influence in the form of bad bacteria appear! They offer sweets to the teeth family and encourage them to eat in the most slovenly manner!

And then the bad bacteria encouraged the teeth family to go to bed. They forbade the teeth family to brush their teeth! (Mind-boggling… do teeth have teeth?)

Toothbrush-man to the rescue

Eventually Toothbrush-man comes to the rescue. Watch him kick! Watch him punch! (Yes he has arms and legs.) And get the teeth family clean again.

牙齿一家和牙刷超人 book reviewed

In comparison to other teeth brushing picture books we read, I have to say this book is not as informative or rich in dental-related language. In fact, there’s really not much of that at all.

I wouldn’t recommend it at all if Little P had not found this book really entertaining. Omori Hiroko certainly knows how to target little children who have a weakness for cars in the illustrations. We read it quite a bit during the loan period.

Interestingly enough, his comments while I was reading largely deals with his own personal likes and dislikes. He notices the toy trains. He says he dislikes curry. He doesn’t like Toothbrush-man.

It’s like the surreal Teeth Family, the sinister bacteria villains and the kungfu conflicts just flew over his head. Like they don’t matter. Or perhaps he doesn’t understand them. He doesn’t notice and say, “Teeth don’t run around and play.” Or “Toothbrush are not human. They don’t have arms and legs.” So I have to say these to him and tell him that these characters are imaginary.

So I think this book is probably better suited for kids who have a better sense of reality then Little P and can understand it better. So if your little one has a better sense of reality and has lost interest in his regular teeth brushing books, or he loves his superheroes, this may be an interesting read to re-inspire his interest to brush teeth, albeit in the perverse way of telling him “No brushing!” :P