Kindergarten-Grade 2–Story first, discussion after is the premise of these books, and it is successfully executed. Precepts about health and safety are presented through the plot and character development-in Clean, Kurt and Karim hate washing until they visit the zoo and see that even animals keep themselves tidy. Some stories take refreshingly unexpected approaches. In Teeth, instead of a cautionary tale about a child getting cavities, the book describes Martas dog losing a tooth from all the dog biscuits she fed him. Gordon pumps up the humor with his illustrations, particularly the dirty or daredevil children whose antics are reminiscent of the Calvin and Hobbs cartoon strip. The closing questions and activities offer a number of opportunities for extended (and fun) discourse.
