Book Nook: Your Smile Has a Window

One of the rites of childhood is losing your baby teeth. Many children are shocked when it happens. Parents can be challenged in explaining it to children. 

Children’s author and illustrator Matthew Boyd developed Your Smile Has A Window to help parents do this in a fun and entertaining way. It even includes a chart suggesting ages that children traditionally lose their teeth.

I had a chance to interview him to learn more.

Why did you decide to create Your Smile has a Window?

I’ve always created fun stories when playing with my kids. When my oldest daughter lost her first tooth I jokes with her and said, “Your smile now has a window.” Around this same time I was in a business group and the chair of that group was encouraging each of us to write a book, saying “Everyone has a book in them.”  I am not sure he meant a children’s picture book but between that and my daughter losing her first tooth, I decided to take the plunge and write and illustrate “Your Smile Has A Window”.

The characters in the book are based on my two daughters.  When I was writing it, I discussed it with them and they loved the characters.  My entire family had fun together as I did the book.

While the story is made up, the characters traits fit my daughters totally and are all theirs. The little Sis with the princess crown on her shirt is my youngest. Big Sis slightly scared as she loses her tooth for the second time is based on my oldest daughter. While I love all the books I have written, there is something about the first one, and the inspiration of it coming directly from my daughters that makes me so proud and fond of “Your Smile Has A Window”.

Also the idea behind all of my books is to entertain. I want kids to have fun and enjoy life. So much of what we do with kids is all about teaching and learning, sometimes it’s just good to have fun. Teaching and learning for kids is important but so is just doing something because it makes you smile. With “Your Smile Has A Window” there is not punishment or overall lesson to be learned, it is pure fun. Everything works out in the end and everyone smiles and is happy. Fun can be the key to enjoying life. 

Why might children be concerned about losing their teeth?

I think it can be a little scary for them. First, they worry it’s going to hurt. Then they worry about what the tooth fairy will bring. Lastly, they can worry about their friends, if they are the first to lose a tooth or maybe everyone else has lost some teeth and they haven’t yet. How will it affect their smile. It’s the unknown that can worry and stress kids. The build-up in their head is usually much more dramatic than what happens in real life and having a fun saying like “Your smile has a window” can help calm them and make it fun. In the end though this first tooth they lose becomes something special to them, it can sometimes be the first sign that a child is starting to grow up, at least the first physical sign they see. The teeth that fall out are the “baby teeth” which can also be a little sad for us parents. 

I have to credit my wife with making it much easier in my house. She is a dental hygienist and really can put the girls at ease with pulling teeth. That’s good for me, I can draw a tooth well but I’m not as good pulling them. 

What are some ways for parents to make this milestone fun?

Mark it, make it a big deal, celebrate it. This is a sign of growth and should be celebrated. In “Your Smile Has A Window” at the back of the book is a keepsake chart where parents can write down the day their child loses each tooth. It also shows you at what age children typically lose teeth, which can help parents with questions that children will ask about when will they lose their teeth. Overall have fun with it. In our house the tooth fairy leaves notes and a trail of glitter around the beds. I would also recommend having the tooth in a little plastic baggie or small tooth keepsake holder when it’s under their pillow. This can really make it easier for the tooth fairy to find the tooth at night. Always a good idea to make things easier for the tooth fairy. 

Matthew Boyd is inspired to draw his stories from his two daughters, friends, and things he believes would amuse and entertain young children.  He has even more children’s books planned following the release of “Your Smile Has A Window”.  He lives in the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven with his wife and two daughters.

“Your Smile Has A Window” is a rhyming children’s book which includes a keepsake chart in the back outlining the age children typically lose each tooth with space for a parent to record their child’s course in losing their baby teeth. The book is one that the whole family can enjoy during story.  It is available on Amazon.

Additional information on “Your Smile Has A Window” and Matthew Boyd may be obtained at www.mbbooks.net