Sensitive Sam Visits the Dentist by Marla Roth-Fisch: A Book Review
Marla offered me a copy of her book, “Sensitive Sam Visits the Dentist” so I could post a review on my blog. This book is beautifully written and illustrated by Marla to help children with sensory processing challenges cope with their visits to the dentist. It is written in a “Social Story” format, which would be really helpful for children on the Autism Spectrum. Each page has hints and suggestions for parents. Parents and therapists can use it before an upcoming visit to the dentist to prepare the child. I would recommend reading it together several times before the visit so the child is really familiar with everything involved in the check-up and knows what to expect. The sensory information (sounds, smells, taste, etc.) is amazingly detailed and provides out kids with a complete picture of the experience.
“Sensitive Sam Visits the Dentist” is a 42-page soft cover book with adorable illustrations. The book is written for ages 4-12 years and has a poetry feel to it with rhyming words. This makes it even more engaging and fun for the little ones. The first 20 pages of the book are for the kids and the last 22 pages are for parents and caregivers. This portion of the book is packed with tips from dentists and dental hygienists. It also includes personal stories from parents, caregivers and therapists with ideas and tips to help with oral hygiene and making visits to the dentists less stressful.
Marla’s first book, “Sensitive Sam,” won the 2010 Preferred Choice Award, by Creative Child Magazine. As a parent of a child with sensory processing disorder, she is well aware of the challenges these children face in routine, everyday situations. Visiting the dentist is hard for many children, but this book can make the process easier and smoother for everyone involved. I would highly recommend this book to parents, caregivers, teachers, therapists, and yes, even pediatric dentists. It can be purchased for around $10 on Amazon and is worth every penny!
Disclaimer: The author of the blog was given a copy of the book for a review. No other compensation was provided. The opinions on the blog are solely the authors.
