Off We Go to the Dentist — Avril Webster

Author Avril Webster created the OFF WE GO! series to help her son with an intellectual disability practice and visualize these routines to alleviate his anxiety about what's going to happen during these activities. Brightly illustrated in an uncluttered cartoon style, and featuring simple text vetted by a speech language pathologist, these stories tell and show kids what to expect.

In OFF WE GO TO THE DENTIST follow a little girl as she greets the dentist office receptionist, reads a book in the waiting room, sits in the dentist's chair ("The dentist puts a towel around my neck. It's not too tight."), gets an exam ("The dentist uses a small mirror and a shiny tool to check how well I brush and floss my teeth. It doesn't hurt."), and receives a new toothbrush after the exam.

These are great stories for parents, occupational therapists, teachers, and aides to read aloud to children with autism, Down syndrome, sensory processing difficulties, speech and language delays, ADHD, Executive Function Disorder, and even children for whom English is a second language. They provide good opportunities to improve language development, communication skills, self-esteem, and confidence. Check out the other stories in the OFF WE GO! series: OFF WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE and OFF WE GO FOR A HAIRCUT.