FICTION

Small Elephant's Bathtime

by Tanya FEENEY
illus. by Tanya Feeney. 32p. Knopf. Mar. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780553497212; lib. ed. $15.99. ISBN 9780553497229; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780553497236. LC 2014004423.
COPY ISBN
PreS—Small Elephant likes jumping in puddles and drinking water through his curly straw, but he doesn't like water when it's in the bathtub. His mom tries several incentives such as toys and bubbles to get her son into the bath, but nothing works as Small Elephant "disappears" behind the curtain. His mother tries one more trick, and it works: seeing his large Daddy looking silly in the tiny tub finally coaxes Small Elephant into the water, and he is reluctant to get out. Simple line drawings with touches of red, white, and blue against ample white space and minimal text add to the charm of this story that captures the experience of a toddler tantrum with humor and good nature.—Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH
Small Elephant doesn't like bathtime. Toys and bubbles don't tempt him, but seeing his big daddy squeezing into the tiny tub does the trick, and once in, Small Elephant won't get out. Even when angry, Small Elephant is cute in the spare blue-and-red illustrations. It's doubtful unwilling washers will be inspired, but adults who've bathed one will relate to the hate-to-get-in/hate-to-get-out bathtime paradox.
Reviewed by Sarah Polace , Jan 01, 2015

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