Bath time for everyone

Everyone has fun in the tub. Who enjoys the pre-bedtime ritual of a fun soak more--young Georgie or his toy animals? It's a toss-up, as kids will learn from this rollicking tale, originally published in Belgium and the Netherlands and translated from Dutch. The book first describes how a crew of critters--stand-ins for Georgie's own stuffed-toy menagerie--derive pleasure from their bubbly escapades. Each lathery lark is preceded by the cheerful, boldfaced jingle, "Bath time, [animal name]!" What fun! Bear bathes beneath some grapevines and munches on grapes. Crocodile soaks while waving his tail to a musical beat. Elephant showers off using her own trunk and with some help from Mouse, who sprays her with a watering can. Elephant then reciprocates by hosing Mouse with her trunk. Hippo hangs upside down from a branch and dips her ears into her tub, the better to clean them. After the animals have donned their pajamas, it's Georgie's turn for a playful, refreshing soak before he puts on his own pj's, reads a bedtime story with his treasured, freshly bathed pals, and says good night. This endearing offering, a very pleasant addition to bedtime-story shelves, will satisfy children with its sweet depiction of familiar, structured routines; they'll also appreciate the animals' unique bathtime regimens, which incorporate onomatopoeic sound effects. The colorful illustrations feature charming, expressive characters. Brown-haired Georgie is pale-skinned. Good clean nighttime fun.(Picture book. 3-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.