Once Upon a Bathtime

PreS-Gr 1—This picture book is told in simple, elegant verse and illustrated with paper-cut collage artwork. The story follows a child as she takes her bath and engages in imaginative play before bed. All of her toys are fairy-tale focused; there's Cinderella, Goldilocks, three bears, a frog prince, three pigs, and "a huffing, puffing wolf." The story flows well and the repetition makes the book ideal for preschoolers. The illustrations are lively and playful as well, with the figures varying in size and scale from page to page. Nothing is exact or consistent, giving the art a naïve, folk-art look and feel. This lovely book may be best suited for one-on-one sharing and close inspection. Many children will relate to these bath rituals and want to share their thoughts while reading.—Lora Van Marel, Orland Park Public Library, IL