Rotten Teeth

by Laura Simms, David Catrow

Speaking in front of the class isn't easy for small people like Melissa Herman. Especially when there's nothing very special to say about her house or her family or herself. But with the help of her older brother, Melissa borrows a bottle from her father's dental office to take to show and tell. The teacher is appalled, but the children are intrigued. David Catrow's hilariously zany illustrations reveal that there is nothing ordinary about Melissa Herman, or her house or her family. The bright artwork is laugh-aloud funny and will have children begging to hear the story again, or maybe invent their very own tale.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Contemporary, Storytime, School, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This childrens book has a very odd twist on humor. The young character in this story brings in a jar of rotten teeth for show and tell. This makes her popular with some of the kids at school. This subject can make kids interested in the book because it’s a gross subject and very different. The descriptive words throughout the book can create a fun way of reading the book to children and how they can also read it. The illustrations are also very unique and interesting with the style of illustrations they choose.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shy girl wants to make a real impression at show-and-tell but doesn't think anything in her house is interesting enough (the illustrations tell another story altogether). Her big brother comes up with an excellent idea, taking a jar of rotten teeth from their father's on-site dentists' office. While the teacher is less than thrilled with the presentation, the kids think it's grossly awesome!

Illustrations are fab - as always with David Catrow.

[Misbah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations, Melissa is so cute.

Melissa brings her father's collection of rotten teeth to show and tell. It's funny when she says that there's nothing interesting in the house when in the background you can see an alien coming to meet her dad. I remember having such a hard time deciding what to bring to show and tell.

[Laurie Clary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melissa doesn't think she has anything special to bring into class for Show-and-Tell, so she borrows a jar of rotten teeth from her father's dentist office. There are many descriptive words in this book and can be used in a lesson on adjectives. The author's purpose in this book is to entertain the reader and I promise, it won't disappoint young readers!

[Emily Geilman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book - EL ED 340
This would make a great read-aloud in a classroom! The illustrations are engaging and hilarious to students. This was also one of my favorite books as a kid. Super fun for showing kids it's okay to talk in front of the class and be story-tellers.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story with lots of truth. Students often bring weird, unusual, and even inappropriate items to share with their class.

Not a book for everyone, some readers may be sensitive to some of the descriptions.

[Tracy Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsure of what to bring to show and tell, this young lady decides to bring her dentists (father) jar of rotten teeth. This obscure find enables her to become a be popular for the first time.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Jennifer Danko · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Catrow illustrated a book that was eye popping on every page. Each picture is detailed with strange and out of the ordinary objects to create the atmosphere that Melissa lives in. Each page gives the reader something to stop and look at. Laura Simms created a character that young children can relate to. More often than not children feel as if they are nothing special. Simms does a great job at helping children realize that even the smallest things can be something special. This book is an easy read for young children. The pages are full of descriptive words creating a fun reading environment for students.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Speaking in front of the class isn't easy for small, shy people like Melissa Herman. Especially when there's nothing very special to say about her house or her family or herself. (Never mind her house is filled with unique and exotic things). But with the help of her older (smart-alecky) brother, Melissa borrows a bottle from her father's dental office to take to show and tell. The teacher is appalled, but the children are intrigued. And Melissa discovers a talent she never knew she had until she opened her mouth for show and tell.

So cute and the illustrations by David Catrow are amazing - as all his are. My library kids were intrigued with the book and the pictures are what hooked them!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melissa doesn't like to talk in front of class and she never does show and tell. But one day she decides to take a big jar of teeth to school. Her dad is a dentist and the teeth are from his patients. Her classmates are fascinated by the teeth and the stories Melissa tells but her teacher isn't impressed. Even though show and tell wasn't that successful, Melissa finds she has an easier time talking to her classmates and decides she will do show and tell more often.

I can't imagine bringing a jar of teeth to school. I would be grossed out and fascinated and the same time. And I think that is how kids feel about this book. I loved the quirky illustrations from Melissa's house.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that was so disgusting, it was disgustingly AWESOME? If you enjoy that kind of book, then ROTTEN TEETH by Laura Simms, is a must read for you. Melissa Hermann needed something amazing for Show & Tell, but she needed her brother's help to be creative in this decision. Her brother's suggestion was a hit with the kids at school, but her teacher was DISGUSTED! You will need to read ROTTEN TEETH to find out how Melissa's Show & Tell went.

Along your journey through this book, you MUST pay attention to David Catrow's illustrations. They tell a whole different story. It is like reading two books in one.

ENJOY your disgusting adventure!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rotten Teeth is infectious fun! When Melissa can't think of anything to bring for show and tell, her brother Norman suggests she brings something dark and creepy from her father's dentist office. She decides to take a jar filled with authentic pulled teeth that were floating in a funny yellow liquid....Mrs. Swann, her teacher was mortified. But, Melissa held celebrity status with her classmates.

Used for "Show & Tell" Storytime-October, 2010.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny picture book of a girl who thinks she has nothing special to share for show and tell. This despite the fact that she lives in a weird, crazy house and has an elephant mowing the front lawn! She listens to an older sibling, doesn't get parental permission and soon brings something to school that causes her teacher to shriek "that's inappropriate!". Funny on several levels--great illustrations. Enjoyed by grades 1 & 2.

[Millie Simonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rotten Teeth was a book about a little girl who took rotten teeth out of her father's dentist office without telling him and took them to school for show and tell. I think that this book would be a great book to read to the class on the day before their first show and tell to give them guidelines of what to bring or what not to bring in a funny way. Show and tell is a great way for students to be recognized in a classroom in a positive way and this book would help to show that.

[Jasmine Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rotten Teeth was a book about a little girl who took rotten teeth out of her father's dentist office without telling him and took them to school for show and tell. I think that this book would be a great book to read to the class on the day before their first show and tell to give them guidelines of what to bring or what not to bring in a funny way. Show and tell is a great way for students to be recognized in a classroom in a positive way and this book would help to show that.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love David Catrow (I know I say that a lot). His illustrations just make any story that much better. And that is the case here as well. Our little girl needs to find something for Show and Tell. But she does not think she really has anything special to show. Her brother tells her to take the bottle of rotten teeth. It was a success and so was our girl. A fun, but a tad long of a book.

#beatthebacklog 2017 #hermione

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations: unusual, interesting. I'm not sure I get the point of it, and it might not be a good idea for a young child who's not comfortable with the dentist...but there's a unique quality to it that makes it stand out somewhat from many a hum-drum children's book.

[Domenique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I read every year to one of my kid's classes.
It does such justice to how kids think, how siblings can get you in trouble and how a good idea can go horribly wrong.
We love the story line and the hilarious pictures.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky illustrations of a very bizaare house and family. A shy first grader brings a jar of rotten teeth to school for show and tell and suddenly becomes popular. Katherine loved it and couldn't get enough of the weird images and disgusting teeth.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is always a big hit as a read aloud. Kids seem to love the humor. The illustrations contribute nicely. The shocking show and tell elicits gasps which dissolve quickly into laughter. It's a silly, fun few minutes spent together enjoying a book. That's a good thing.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading this book to the kids. It's a fun read aloud book. And I think it is so funny what this little girl decides to bring for show and tell!

[Amanda M. Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! Amusing and colorful it has a quirky sense of humor about children and what they find interesting that's sure to appeal to the unusual kid and their parents.

[Adrienne Colbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can be used to lighten the mood in the classroom. It's great for keeping the childrens' attention. It can also be used in the discussion of adjectives.

[Kelsey Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really the only weird parts are the pictures of the teeth (usually in a pool of liquid and with blood stains, ugh). The actual story is cute.

[Marcus Richter]

perfect book for your child if it does not like "show and tell"

[Amberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, engaging story about a young first grade girl being nervous about show & tell. David Catrow's illustrations are delightful - like always.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8-year-old loved this book (maybe because it's a little on the gross side). The illustrations are fun.

[Tara Mickela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Simms and David Catrow know the formula to entertain the Mickela Family!! Besides wonderfully unique in its story, this is so creatively funny and sweet and perfect for creatively funny kids!!

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is a really good book