The Author’s Journey
Written by Dr. Gina Collins Mancini
My idea for Tabitha the Tooth began many years ago as a simple play. I had the idea to write a play one day when I was asked to speak at my children’s school for dental health month. My idea was to try to make dental health education entertaining for the children. When I finished writing the script, my staff and I worked to bring the characters and lessons of dental care to life. Together we created stage props, found and customized costumes, decided on music, and then choreographed the play.
Creating and performing this children’s dental health play was truly one of the most rewarding experiences for us. Every step of the process was filled with laughter and camaraderie. We poured our creativity and energy into making the play entertaining and educational, and it became an experience we will always cherish. My children however, were a little concerned when I first told them I was going to be dancing with carrots and giant teeth on stage at their school. That changed after our first performance. Seeing children’s faces light up, including my own children, as they learned about brushing, flossing, and making healthy choices was truly special. The children were excited to meet characters like Tabitha and Tanner, and the enthusiasm during interactive moments made it clear that the play was both entertaining and impactful. This marked the beginning of several wonderful years during which we performed the play to other local schools, libraries, and summer programs. Our goal was to share its message with as many children as possible.
Hearing parents and teachers share how much the children had learned—and how it inspired them to take better care of their teeth—was the ultimate reward. The joy and engagement we witnessed made every moment of preparation worthwhile and left us with memories we will treasure forever.
After several years of performing the play, I decided in 2014 to take the play a step further by turning it into a children’s book. My goal was to try to reach children beyond my local community. I also introduced a new character, Tanner the Tooth, to accompany Tabitha on her adventures. To make the experience even more interactive, I created Tabitha and Tanner plush characters.
My books were originally published by Mascot Books in 2014 and I now have a new edition that is being published by Mascot books and is set to be released in February 2025. The books will be available on Amazon and through my dental practice. I am also proud to announce the release of a video game designed and developed by my son, that was released in the summer of 2024 on Game Jolt. The game is based on the lessons in the book and is titled, SMILE HEROES, THE GAME.
The journey following the release of my books, Tabitha the Tooth and Tanner the Tooth has been nothing short of extraordinary. These books have touched the hearts and minds of countless children, earning a Book of the Year award from Creative Children’s Magazine and gaining recognition from both dental and general audiences as entertaining and educational tools. Seeing them celebrated by organizations and publications has been an incredible honor, reinforcing the value they bring in making dental health fun and approachable for children.
The books have reached readers nationwide through major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Amazon. Beyond sales, I have had the joy of giving back by donating copies to schools and libraries in my community and beyond ensuring access to as many children as I can reach. This mission of spreading awareness and education has extended even further when I had the privilege of donating books and plush characters for mission trips to places like Africa and Costa Rica. Knowing these tools are helping children around the world learn the importance of dental health has been deeply fulfilling.
I am constantly trying to think of ways to evolve and reach more children. And the creation of the game, SMILE HEROES, THE GAME, has been another way to do this. Many years ago, when I noticed my son, Joshua’s growing passion for video creation, I casually said to him, “Maybe one day you could create a game based on the books I wrote.” Little did I know that this idea would one day come to life. Fast forward to today, and as a game design student at High Point University, my son came to and said, “I’m ready!” From that moment, we embarked on an incredible journey together. It was truly amazing to witness the progression from Joshua sitting in the audience during our first performance of the play at his school to years later bringing the story to life by designing and developing this game.
Watching Joshua’s dedication to bringing Tabitha and Tanner to life in a way that faithfully conveyed the lessons from the books while also making the game exciting and engaging was inspiring. He poured his creativity and technical skills into every detail, ensuring the game would educate and entertain players. The process of collaborating on Smile Heroes allowed us to combine our passions and talents in a truly meaningful way. Sharing ideas, overcoming challenges, and celebrating milestones throughout the development process created unforgettable memories for both of us. I could not be prouder of what he accomplished or more grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with my son. The game was published on Game Jolt in August of 2024 and can be played for free. It is a fun, interactive game that brings my characters to life and it turns out the game is being enjoyed not only by children, but adults too!
It’s been a remarkable journey, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to share these stories and their message of healthy smiles.
