Did your kids love to bathe, blow bubbles, splash and carry on in the bathtub? I know that mine sure did. They also loved to be in there for as long as they could be! But, I have heard from other parents that their children did not think a bath was a necessary part of their nighttime routine. To each his own, I guess.
The children in this most enjoyable book are not so keen to get their baths started. Parents chase, tempt, aid, and often just plunk the child straight into the bath water without listening to any complaints. It makes it a lot of fun for reading aloud. Parents lure with a 'yes, yes' while children refuse vehemently. In the end, the kids all end up being bathed.
The many ways that happens are described in short, explanatory text on double-page spreads executed with mixed media artwork filled with action, beautiful backgrounds, and blue-green waters. It may be a bathtub at home, a bath used by others, a river, a steam bath in a cabin on the tundra, a waterfall, a bogey hole, hot springs, a lake, or a muddy volcano. For every child the result is the same ... cleanliness.
As the text progresses from country to country, parent and child say 'yes, yes' and 'no, no' in their own language, with help for pronunciation included. This adds to the learning and appeal, and makes the reading more fun.
The story begins with a reluctant little boy not wanting to have anything to do with bathing, and ends with him never wanting to come out of the tub ... a common ritual for children of the world.
In end matter, the author adds an informative paragraph about each type of bath described and the countries represented. Lots to learn, and fun for the whole family.
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