Scaredy Bath

Foster Blake (No One Likes a Fart) invites readers to walk a mile in the shoes--or at least the fancy claw-feet--of the eponymous yellow bathtub. Scaredy Bath spends all day dreading the nightly washing ordeal; a series of vignettes depict the tub's mounting anxiety until the household's resident kids, portrayed with light brown skin, appear "covered in spaghetti and dirt and smells" and proceed to "yank the plug! They'd whack the tap! They'd thrash and slide! They'd even pee in the water!" But after several lonely nights pass without the usual chaos, Scaredy Bath is so happy to see the family return--visual cues indicate they've been away at the beach--that even the inevitable peeing-in-the-water incident can't harsh the tub's new mellow. The story has familiar narrative contours, but its dramatic text should be a crowd pleaser ("Think about what I have to put up with," says the toilet). Images by Gray-Barnett (Katerina Cruickshanks), which have the textures and visual spontaneity of watercolor and ink sketches, bubble with an affection for the chaos that is daily family life. Ages 3--7. (Nov.)

Who thought a bathtub could dread bathtime! Scaredy Bath spends all day every day fretting about the evening. Thumping footsteps coming up the stairs, the hot water, toys and bubbles, and two smelly and stinky little ones--it's unbearable! When the big hairy dog jumps in, Scaredy Bath decides that's enough and attempts to leave, but its feet are stuck to the floor. The sink and toilet try to put things into perspective, hilariously ("Think about what I have to put up with," quips the toilet), but Scaredy Bath still loathes bathtime…until one day, no one comes. And Scaredy Bath is faced with an even more unpleasant prospect--abandonment. Perhaps bathtime might not be so bad after all. Dry, understated text that underscores the topsy-turvy situation is accompanied by giggle-inducing illustrations rendered in loose lines. One image of a child peeing in the bath might make adults cringe but will delight young ones seeking to avoid their own bathtimes. Depicted in bright yellow, Scaredy Bath shows a remarkable range of facial expressions--wide-eyed, cringing, sad, afraid--especially on a spread in which the tub is seen waiting all day for bathtime. This is a funny tale in a long line of narrative twists designed to encourage children to engage in and enjoy a necessary part of childhood life, among them Mitchell Sharmat's Gregory the Terrible Eater (1980), illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Scaredy Bath's family is light-skinned; one of the adults is blond, the other is bald, and the children are dark-haired. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Funny, imaginative, and subversive--sure to be a read-aloud favorite. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.