review: Bath Time by Sandra Boynton

Bath Time written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton. Workman, 2007 (978-0-7611-4708-4) $7.95

It's always a pleasure to see a well-loved illustrator take on a bath book, a children's literature sub-genre which doesn't get much respect, or usually deserve it. This is hardly Boynton's most significant work, but it still squeezes some of her goofy grace into its few pages, with a short but merry text--"Gently scrub from top to toes. Now I kiss you on the nose"--and a lovably messy pig in the starring role. Initially dismayed to find himself covered in blobs of paint, the pig becomes relaxed and happy in the tub, finishing up with a jazzy dance as he dries his bottom off with a towel labeled "THE END." The book is reported to float (I haven't tried it out,) and includes a squeaker in the pig's nose--which based on previous experience with these things, will probably last through about two baths, which may be one bath more than you really wanted. No matter--it'll be a treat to have a book to share that doesn't make you feel like eight pages is seven pages too many. (6 months-3)