RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - When SRO Chad Dodson learned Lascassas Elementary School students were scared to go to the dentist, so he and his daughter, Caitlin, wrote a book to soothe their fears.

The star of the book is Pancake, an Old English bulldog stuffed animal Dodson uses to calm and entertain children at the school. “Pancake and the Tooth Man” explores Pancake’s fears about going to the dentist and overcoming those fears. “We did the story to get over it,” Dodson said. “Things are not as bad as they always seem.” Dodson told WGNS the children at Lascassas were first introduced to Pancake when the COVID Pandemic hit…

Pancake is joined in the coloring book by other stuffed animals Dodson uses with the students including Pancake’s sibling twins Waffle and Waffle and friends Peek-A-Boo and T-Bone.

School media specialist Wendy Duncan created the Word Search activity and gave guidance about the book.

Art teacher Bonni Smith enlisted 5th graders and best friends Rory Gammon and McBride Stallings to illustrate the book. Rory and McBride read the script and submitted their drawings in black and white. One of Rory’s favorite drawing is Pancake playing Frisbee with the Waffles. “I thought it was so funny,” Rory explained. “Waffle was like saying, ‘it’s mine. It’s mine.’”

“I really love Waffle saying, “Give it to me,’” McBride said. McBride selected her drawing of the tooth the publishers altered. “It’s eyes are wide open,” McBride said with delight. “I love it. It’s just amazing.”

“It looks like the tooth is embedded in the wall and it’s going to bust out one day,” Rory said. “I think the book turned out amazingly.”

Dodson said it was special working with his daughter and the students to create the book. “I want Pancake to be practical to help the kids go to the dentist and meet their needs,” Dodson said. “He is more than a stuffed animal.”  Lascassas’ PTO did an awesome job in selling the coloring book, Dodson said. 

SRO Dodson enjoys helping the students he works with on a daily basis and when children are going through tough times and he said it is always important to let the children know they are not alone…

The book’s proceeds go to fund Lascassas Cares, a group to help kids in need of clothes, shoes and other necessities.