Space Coast Health Foundation publishes children’s dental book to reinforce good dental habits
The Space Coast Health Foundation (SCHF) in Rockledge has published an illustrated dental book to teach children in the community about good dental habits and the importance of proper oral hygiene.
The 30-page book is titled Open Wide: A Dental Adventure, and it features a menagerie of characters from a zoo, not unlike the Brevard Zoo, talking about dental care.
SCHF funded the first run of the book’s publication. The Foundation has also secured funding for a second print run with grant support from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation.
Open Wide will be part of the Rolling Readers Space Coast literacy program and it also is being presented to several elementary schools throughout Brevard and at Brevard Health Alliance locations.
The idea for the book came from discussion with the foundation’s Dental Task Force. And the book is dedicated to Scott Huff, a former SCHF board member who currently serves on the task force.
“We wanted to create a book that was fun and imaginative, while also providing dental education,” said Gindling. “We intend for it to further the message – which also is the goal of the Space Coast Health Foundation – that it’s important to start good dental practices and oral hygiene early in life.”
Open Wide focuses on dental care practices such as proper brushing techniques, how to floss, and certain foods to avoid. It is aimed at children from preschool through the third grade.
Melody Marler, who is on the SCHF staff and a published author, headed the book project. The storyline was created through a collaboration of several members of the Dental Task Force, while Kenzie Rennemann, a Viera High School graduate in her sophomore year at the University of Florida, illustrated the book.
“The book achieves the goals it set out to accomplish, which is explaining why it’s important to brush and floss and eat well,” said Marler, who oversees the SCHF’s Center for Collaboration in Rockledge. “It was a fun project and I’m happy I could be part of it.”
Huff is an enthusiastic supporter of the project and noted his children’s and grandchildren’s love of reading. “I think putting a positive dental message out in children’s book form is a great way to instill these practices, especially to our very young community members,” Huff said.
One of his most important critics, his 8-year-old granddaughter, provided a key review for Open Wide.
“She loved it,” Huff said.
The book is available for sale here: https://www.schfbrevard.org/store/ and the eBook is available on Amazon https://amzn.to/3oJGjNQ
If you’re a teacher interested in having Open Wide read aloud in your classroom, contact Wayne Price at 321-241-6600 or Wayne.Price@SCHFBrevard.org.