Kathleen Austin’s Third “Beary Best Friends” Book Sends Its Characters to the Dentist

Balle Balle Radio™ Entertainment Desk

Kathleen Austin has published "Beary Best Friends A Visit to the Dentist," the third book in her children’s series, through Page Publishing.

The series follows a group of bear characters through everyday childhood experiences, and this installment centers on a trip to the dentist. According to the publisher’s synopsis, the book ends with the characters walking out of the dental office and wondering where their next adventure will take them, a framing consistent across the earlier entries in the series and one that suggests Austin is building toward further books rather than closing out the story.

Austin, a graduate of Hunterdon Central High School, lives in Milford, New Jersey, with her husband. She has said the characters draw on people in her own life, including her nephew Anthony, her cousin Stephen Perry, who lives in England, and her son Jeffrey Jr. The book’s dedication credits Dr. Thomas Evers and his staff, whom Austin has said informed the story’s approach to dental care.

"I wanted to create a story that shows children how a trip to the dentist can actually be an adventure," Austin stated according to the press release. "Through the eyes of my beloved characters, I hope every child discovers that taking care of their teeth is something to embrace with joy and confidence."

The publisher describes the book as aimed at easing children’s anxiety about dental visits through themes of courage and friendship. "Beary Best Friends A Visit to the Dentist" is available in paperback and through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and the Apple iTunes Store.

Studio CarryOnHarry sees this as a small but telling entry in a durable corner of children’s publishing: books built around a single anxiety-inducing milestone, from first haircuts to first dentist visits, that parents reliably seek out regardless of how crowded that shelf already is.

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