Teeth

by Sneed B. Collard III, Phyllis V. Saroff (Illustrator)

Humans and many animals use teeth to chew their food, but teeth are also used to attract mates and warn off predators. Science writer Sneed B. Collard III explores the various functions, structures, and number of animals' teeth. Includes a glossary and additional resources.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Science

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Sneed B. Collard III (see also "Sneed B. Collard") is a biologist, world traveler, speaker, and author of almost one hundred books for young people, including the 2024 Orbis Pictus Award winner, Border Crossings (Charlesbridge Publishing). His other recent science titles include Fire Birds; Hopping Ahead of Climate Change; Little Killers; Waiting for a Warbler; Beaver & Otter Get Along . . . Sort of; and the upcoming picture book, Like No Other. Collard holds science degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and U.C. Santa Barbara. He lives in Montana.

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*]

Collard, Sneed B. III Teeth, illustrated by Phyllis V. Saroff. Charlesbridge, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

Collard explores all kinds of teeth in all kinds of mammals in this picture book. The information is helpful without being overwhelming. The only thing I wonder is how it would have looked if the illustrations were photos instead of drawings.

EL, MS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

[James Biser]

This is another great report by Sneed Collard. Most animals have teeth, but the numbers of teeth, way that they grow, are displayed and replaced vary. A walrus tusk and the grinding plates in the throat of a clam-eating ray are immensely different, but they are both extreme versions of teeth common to almost all animals.

[Jennifer]

Lots of things in this book that I did not know. Question though.... why did the author do a page about horns and antlers? Kinda random. Great information and very detailed illustrations. Not for timid people!

[Diego]

ABSOLUTELY teeth 5/5

[Mary Ann]

Teeth are fascinating to kids. Losing a tooth is a clear rite of passage, a clear sign of, "Hey, I'm getting older! I'm a big kid now!"

This is a beautiful, engaging book about teeth in all sorts of animals: vampire bats, snow leopards, spotted hyenas, horses. It looks at the different jobs teeth do: slicing, stabbing, crunching, grinding, mashing. The pictures are colorful and detail, and they really draw the reader into the text. The text is broken up into nice size chunks, looking at the different jobs teeth do, or the qualities of different teeth. All in all, I think it's a great science book that I think many young kids will be drawn to.

[Robin]

Amazingly realistic illustrations will captivate readers. You'll learn what teeth do (stab, slice, grind, mash and munch), how much they can differ in shape and size (an elephants molar might weigh 9 pounds!) and number (from the narwhal with just 2 to the great white shark, with as many as 3,000!!), and about tusk and fangs, which are teeth too.

[Matthew]

The poem that is the main text of this book is just a taste of the informational text that supports it. This is a great informational text if you find the child with endurance to get through it all. Good nonfiction writing. Engaging and informative.

[Suzanne]

Interesting subject for a concept book and an interesting set up-- you can read just the big print with younger children ("Teeth can be small") or longer, more detailed bits with older kids.

[Andrea Kenyon]

Reviewing teeth books for elementary students. This was a very interesting book about different animal's teeth and their functions.
Beautiful illustrations. The author's name is fabulous!

[William]

this book was very interesting