The Doll's Storybook

Stories about dolls who live in our world. Although these stories are suitable for children, they should check with their parents before reading and always be careful online. Readers are invited to donate to a charity supporting pediatric cancer treatment and research. Images shown are taken by the author or from a free image website with attribution and appreciation. The author has no connection with Götz Puppenmanufaktur, but gives them credit for the amazing dolls they produce.

Friday, February 9, 2024

A Field Trip to the Dentist

"I'm so excited!" Billy exclaimed, as he sat down to wait for The Writer to back the car out of the garage.

"So am I!" Jolena agreed. "I feel so lucky to get to go on this field trip!"
The dolls were sitting on the stairs, waiting to leave to go to visit the dentist. While they were waiting, Mandy explained that a dentist looks after people's teeth. She told them what they would see and do at the dentist's office. (It's always good to know what to expect before you go somewhere new.)
"I know you will remember your manners," Mandy said after she had explained everything to them. "You are both well-behaved dolls. I know you will say please and thank you, and that you will ask before you touch anything."
Jolena and Billy nodded.
Mandy wanted to make sure the two younger dolls remembered what she told them. "Now, tell me what you will do there," Mandy said.

"First, we will go in and let them know we are there," Jolena replied. "Then we will sit down and wait for someone to come and get us."

"Yes," agreed Billy. "We will be patient and quiet. Then, when someone comes to get us, we will do what they say."
"You will be fine," Mandy assured them. "You both have had a lot of practice doing things real children do. This is no different."

"It's exciting getting to do what real children do," Jolena said, "even though a lot of it is pretend for us."

"Pretending is what we do best," Mandy agreed.

The drive to the dentist's office only took a few minutes. As soon as they arrived, Jolena went to sit down on a chair, while Billy waited for the lady to come back to her desk, so he could tell her that they were there.

After he made sure she knew they had arrived, Billy went to sit down with Jolena to wait patiently.

It was interesting to look around the waiting room. Neither one of the dolls had ever been in a dentist's waiting room before.

Jolena noticed that there was a big fish tank full of fish. She watched the fish for a while. They made her feel very relaxed.

Billy wondered if every dentist had fish. He knew that some fish have teeth, but not the kind of fish people usually keep as pets.

After a few minutes, the nice lady at the desk told them that it might be a few minutes. She suggested they might like to do some coloring at the children's table in the corner. That sounded like fun!

While Jolena looked through the coloring book to find a page to color, Billy picked out the colors.

Soon the dolls were happily taking turns coloring in the coloring book.

In a few minutes another lady came to the waiting room and said they were ready for Billy and Jolena. She introduced herself. She said she was a hygienist (HIGH-jeh-nist). A hygienist is a person who knows all about keeping teeth and gums clean and healthy. She explained that her job is to clean people's teeth and to help with anything the dentist needs help with, like taking X-rays or handing the dentist the right tools when the dentist fills cavities (KAH-vuh-tees) in people's teeth. Cavities are holes in the teeth caused by something called decay (dee-KAY).

They went down a hall and into a smaller room.

"This looks like the bridge of a starship!" Billy exclaimed when he saw it. The first thing he noticed was a set of cords with things at the ends that looked like something could be attached to them.

"Can you tell me what all of these things are for please?" Billy asked politely, pointing at them.

The hygienist showed the dolls how you could attach tools to one of the cords. She attached a cleaning tool and turned it on. It had a little foam brush at the end that went around and around, very fast.

While it was moving, she touched it to Billy's fingernail, so he could feel it. Then she let Jolena feel it. She told them that was what it felt like on your teeth.

Then the hygienist showed the dolls a tool that could shoot water, like a water pistol. It was used to rinse the teeth. It could also shoot air to blow the teeth clean, so the dentist can see. It made a swooshing sound. She let each doll feel what it was like to have the water or air on their hands.

Another tool was like a little vacuum cleaner. It is used to remove the water from a person's mouth after the teeth are rinsed. Each doll felt what it was like. It made a slurping sound.

"That's really cool!" Billy exclaimed.

While she was showing these tools to the dolls, the hygienist explained why it is important to look after your teeth. Billy thought it was very interesting.

Jolena was very interested in the computer. She learned that it is used for things like looking at X-rays and for checking to see how long ago X-rays had been taken.

The hygienist explained that X-rays are pictures of the teeth using high-energy waves to show things you can't see with just your eyes. Some cavities or other problems only show up on the X-rays. If the teeth aren't straight enough, it can make it difficult to eat or speak, and sometimes it causes a person's mouth to hurt. If the dentist sees that kind of problem, the person will be sent to a special kind of dentist called an orthodontist (or-thuh-DON-tist) to get their teeth straightened. It's very important to check children's teeth, because if there's a problem, finding it early can make it easier to fix.

Then the hygienist showed them the frame that holds the film. When you're having X-rays taken, the hygienist will put the frame in your mouth. Then she asks you to bite down on the frame. The frame on this one is red. She takes the photo through the blue part.

The hygienist explains that it doesn't hurt, and it's fun to see what your teeth look like with X-rays.

In the middle of the room was a big chair. The hygienist let the dolls sit in the chair. First it was Jolena's turn.
"It's like a big recliner," Jolena said.

Then she got down and Billy climbed into the chair.
"There's lots of room for my legs," he said.

"May I pretend to be the hygienist?" Jolena asked.

"I'll be the patient!" Billy exclaimed. "If I may, please," he added.

The hygienist said that was a good idea. She took Jolena to the counter at the side of the room. She showed her a set of tools.

She showed Jolena each tool and explained what it was for. There was a tool to pull off bits of stuff that collects on people's teeth. She tapped Jolena's fingernail with it.

"This is what it feels like when it's used on a person's teeth," she explained.

"That's interesting," Jolena said.

Then the hygienist showed Jolena a little mirror that is used to see the back side of a tooth. Jolena could see her face in it. "That mirror is doll-size!" she exclaimed.

After the hygienist had explained all the tools to Jolena, she took them over to Billy and showed each one to him. Then she explained that the dentist and the hygienist would wash their hands at the little sink before checking someone's teeth and gums. She had Jolena pretend to wash her hands and then show that they were clean.

Normally, the dentist and the hygienist would each put on some special gloves and a mask before they touch a person's mouth, but there aren't any in Jolena's size, so they decided she would just pretend.

After telling Billy what was going to happen, the hygienist made the chair lie back. Billy thought it was like going for a short ride.

"I can see the ceiling," Billy said. "I'm glad I'm not the kind of doll with eyes that close."

The hygienist put a kind of bib on Billy, so he wouldn't get his shirt messed up. Then she brought down a big light that is used to shine in a person's mouth, so the hygienist and the dentist can see well. It was very bright. Now Billy wished his eyes could close.

Jolena was ready to pretend to be the hygienist.

"I can only open my mouth if I no one is looking," Billy said, so the hygienist closed her eyes. (She had eyes that can close.)
Jolena pretended to check his teeth and poke around in his mouth. She asked Billy if he had been brushing his teeth correctly and if he had been flossing. (That means using a special kind of thread between the teeth to clean where the brush can't reach.)

"I would brush and floss my teeth, if I had any teeth," he replied.

"I know you would brush your teeth and floss if you had teeth," Jolena said. "So would I!"

Both dolls laughed. The hygienist laughed, too, and then she opened her eyes again.

"We have to pretend to brush and floss our teeth after we pretend to eat," Jolena said. "Also at bedtime," she added.

"We are supposed to limit how much candy and other sweets we eat," Billy said, "because that stuff is bad for teeth."

"You are very smart dolls," said the hygienist. Then she gave each of them a little bag with some teeth-cleaning supplies. There was even a little hourglass timer, so they could be sure they brushed long enough.

When they had seen everything, the hygienist took Jolena and Billy back to the counter next to the waiting room. The lady at the counter said she would make their next appointment. "When would you like to come back?" she asked.

"Tomorrow!" the dolls said together.

"How about in six months?" the lady suggested.

Billy and Jolena went to find Mandy when they got home. "How did it go?" Mandy asked as Jolena climbed up and sat on the big chair with her.
"It was fun," Billy said, climbing up to join Mandy and Jolena.

"We saw some really cool stuff," Jolena agreed.
"Tell me what you learned," Mandy said. She put her glasses to the top of her head, which meant she was ready to listen.

"I found out," Jolena explained, "that the dentist looks at children's teeth and gums to see if there are any problems and to make sure their teeth are developing properly as they grow. Children's teeth can even be straightened if they need it."
"I found out," Billy added, "that the hygienist cleans and flosses their teeth and looks for cavities. Cavities are holes in the teeth," he explained.

"Cavities are caused by something called decay," Jolena added. Then Jolena explained that flossing is using a special kind of waxy string to get in between the teeth to remove little pieces of food that your toothbrush doesn't reach.
"It leaves your teeth all clean!" she exclaimed.

Mandy nodded.

"They use X-rays to find the cavities," Billy said excitedly. "They put a little plastic frame with some special film inside a person's mouth. The person holds it still by biting on it while the hygienist takes the picture. Then you can look at the pictures and see your teeth the way Superman could see them!"

"If the person has a cavity," Billy continued, "the dentist will remove the bad part of the tooth with some of those tools and then fill it with special filling material. I'd like to see that."

"Maybe when we go back in six months," Jolena suggested.

"You really learned a lot!" Mandy said with a smile. "You remembered it, too," she added.

"It was fun," Billy said again. "Now I almost know what it's like to have teeth."
"I wonder what it's like to chew," Jolena mused.
"Me, too," agreed Billy.
The three dolls thought about that.

The dolls also thought about how important it is to take care of your teeth...if you have teeth.

Cast--

Mandy: Götz Happy Kidz Katie 2015
Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen
Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily at London

Many thanks to East Bend Dental in Bend, Oregon, for allowing Jolena and Billy to visit and learn about trips to the dentist.

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook and Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Author's page on Amazon.

Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to charity (specific information available upon request). Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

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Friday, February 2, 2024

Welcoming a Stranger––A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, there were three teddy bears. There was a papa teddy bear, a mama teddy bear and a baby teddy bear. They all lived together in a house in the woods.

One morning, while the mama teddy bear was getting the baby teddy bear up from his bed and ready for the day, the papa teddy bear made oatmeal and put it on the table.

The oatmeal was too hot, so the three teddy bears decided to go for a walk while they waited for it to cool.

No sooner were they gone from the house, when a little girl doll named Goldie came skipping through the woods. She stopped when she saw the house.

Goldie decided it would be fun to visit someone, so she went and rapped on the door with her knuckles.

There was no answer. She knocked again.

Still no answer. She tried a third time.

"No one is home," she said to herself. "Maybe I should go in and wait." The door made a noisy creaking sound as Goldie opened it and went inside.

The first thing Goldie noticed was that all the lights were on. Then she noticed that there was a table in the dining room. It was set for three. There were three bowls already full of oatmeal. "They must not be planning on being gone for long," Goldie said to no one in particular.

Then Goldie realized that she hadn't eaten breakfast. She was hungry, so she tasted the oatmeal in one of the bowls.

"Ow!" she exclaimed. "This oatmeal is too hot!" Goldie tried the next bowl. "Nope," she said. "This one is too cold."

Finally, Goldie went to the third bowl and tasted it. "Mmmmmm! Just right!" she said.

It was so good and she was very hungry, so she ate it all.

Now Goldie was tired. She decided to see if there was a good place to lie down. She went upstairs, where she thought the bedrooms might be. She was right.

In one bedroom there was a very big bed. "This must be where the parents sleep," she said to herself.

She tried to get up on the bed, but it was too high, and she didn't see anything to climb on, and even if she could get up there, what if she fell off in her sleep?

Goldie decided to look in another room. In the next bedroom there was another big bed. The room was very tidy. There were no personal things in the room. "I'll bet this room is for guests," she said. She decided she was a guest. The bed in this room was lower than the first one but still too high for her to climb up on.

Finally, Goldie looked in the third bedroom. She found a very small bed. It was right on the floor. That was perfect for Goldie, so she decided to lie down on it.

Goldie's eyes never close, so she needs a sleep mask to sleep. She always puts her sleep mask into her bag when she goes away from home. Now she took her sleep mask out of her bag and put it on. Soon she was fast asleep.

The teddy bear family had been having a good walk. They decided that their oatmeal must be cool enough to eat, so they went back to the house.

They went right to the table, because they were very hungry. The papa teddy bear saw the spoon in his oatmeal. "Someone has been eating my oatmeal," said the papa teddy bear.

"Someone has been eating my oatmeal, too!" exclaimed the mama teddy bear when she saw the spoon in her bowl.

The baby teddy bear saw his bowl and cried, "Someone has been eating my oatmeal, and it's all gone!"

The three teddy bears realized that they had an intruder. Someone had come into the house uninvited. They started looking through the house. There was no one downstairs, so they went upstairs to check there.

There was no one in the first bedroom, the one with the really big bed.

There was no one in the second bedroom with the lower bed.

Finally they checked in the third bedroom. There, on the little bed on the floor, they found Goldie, fast asleep.

The papa teddy bear put his paw in front of his mouth and said, "Shhhhh!" Then he led the other two teddy bears out of the room and shut the door. Out in the hall, the papa teddy bear said softly, "The little girl doll must need rest. Let's let her sleep, while we eat breakfast. When she wakes up, we can have a nice visit."

"She looks so sweet asleep there," The mama teddy bear said. "She must have walked a long way to be so hungry and tired."

"But my oatmeal is all gone!" the baby teddy bear complained. "I'm hungry, too!"

"We still have oatmeal in the pot on the stove," said the papa teddy bear. "We can heat it up in the microwave and give you another bowl. We are very fortunate bears," he added. "We have plenty of food to eat and nice beds to sleep on. We can share."
Soon the three teddy bears were eating a nice breakfast.

When Goldie Locks woke up from her nap and went downstairs, she found the three teddy bears sitting on the couch in the living room.

The teddy bears made room for Goldie on the couch. Goldie introduced herself and found out that their names were Papa, Mama and Baby. Mama fixed some tea. They had a nice visit until it was time for Goldie to go home.

Goldie gave each teddy bear a bear hug and thanked them for welcoming a stranger. They hugged her back.

The bears invited Goldie to come back to see them again, but asked her to please call or text first, to make sure they are home. That way they can set another place at the table, and all of them can eat together.

When she got home, Goldie told the other dolls what had happened. No one believed her, but they all lived happily ever after anyway.

Cast and Crew––
The Three Bears: Themselves
Goldie Locks: Charlotte
Story Adaptation: Mariah
Director: Mandy
Photography: Billy
Costumes, sets, makeup and hair: Veronika
Food for cast and crew, and bear trainer: Jolena