Bears in the Bath

PreS-Gr 1—Big Brown Bear inspects his dirty brood, beginning when "The bath is ready." The four cubs, all in need of a good scrub, are introduced one at a time-Floppy, Fuzzy, Calico, and Yellow Bear-each with a couplet explaining why the bath is necessary. Despite the cobwebs, mud, and grime, the bears don't want to get in the water. Big Brown Bear chases them around the tub, and "SPLISH, SPLASH, SPLOOSH!" -he jumps in and the rest of them follow. The rhyming text is sing-songy and smooth, despite the forced feeling of the introductory "there" and "bears." The subdued acrylic hues of the salmon pink, sky blue, soft yellow, tan, and light brown bears-and their resemblance to the kinds of simple, fuzzy bears used to decorate nurseries-create a childlike feel. The ample white space surrounding the bears allows children to focus on the cuddly critters. This is a sweet story for children to share with their grown-ups before bed or bath time or to pair with Brett Helquist's Bedtime for Bear (HarperCollins, 2010).—Whitney LeBlanc, Staten Island Academy, NY