Adekemi Adeniyan broaches so many different issues in The Girl Who Found Her Smile that you can spend hours discussing the book with your children. Anita lives in Nigeria, and young readers will learn some about her culture as it compares to that of the United States. Anita enjoys crunching on candy. She also dislikes brushing her teeth. As children read this book, they will learn why brushing their teeth at least twice daily is important and what happens when they don’t. Dentist offices are similar in the USA and Nigeria, but be sure to discuss the differences in access to dental services. Anita becomes embarrassed by the discoloration of her teeth and her swollen gums. After the dentist’s visit, Anita changes her ways and brushes her teeth faithfully. Children will also enjoy the information that follows the story, such as The ABCs of Cavities, Healthy Teeth Goals, and filling in the Monthly Healthy Smile Pledge pages. This is a fun picture book for children that teaches on many levels.

Adekemi Adeniyan is the founder and executive director of Dentalcare Foundation, which provides oral healthcare in Nigeria. She wrote The Girl Who Found Her Smile to share what dental care is like in Africa. Adekemi knows what children are interested in and how to make a wonderful story around oral care. Dolph Banza does a masterful job of illustrating this book, and children will be able to see the differences between the houses they live in and what houses look like in Africa. While the two cultures are different, many things are the same, and unity comes from focusing on what we have in common. Another important issue in this book is helping those in need. A life is never so fulfilled as when it is spent helping others. You might even want to encourage your child to donate to a worthy non-profit helping those who are in need. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

The Girl Who Found Her Smile by Adekemi Adeniyan is an educational children’s picture book. Anita loves to eat candy but hates brushing her teeth. When it’s time for her school photo, she’s excited to smile with the rest of her friends, but when she looks in the mirror the night before, she’s horrified! What a disaster – there’s something wrong with her teeth, and she can’t possibly smile for her photo! Mum thinks she has the answer. Can she solve Anita’s problem? Will Anita be able to show off her teeth in a smile for the school photo?

The Girl Who Found Her Smile by Adekemi Adeniyan is a fun story with a serious message. No kid likes brushing their teeth, but this story teaches them that good oral hygiene is important for a healthy mouth and a great smile. The illustrations by Dolph Banza are wonderful and help kids understand the story and push the message home. There’s no finger-pointing here, just a simple message that kids will find easy to understand. At the end of the book is an explanation of cavities, how to avoid them, and how to brush your teeth, written in simple language and with plenty of illustrations. There’s also a series of Monthly Healthy Smile pages for kids to complete each month with some examples on what to write – a great way to teach children how to build healthy habits that last a lifetime. This book is fun but educational and should be part of every child’s life.