BUBBLES, BUBBLES

A dip in the tub is cause for celebration in this effervescent addition to the Harper Growing Tree series. With the companionship of a toy duck and frog, a gleefully dirty tot frolics about in the bath. Amid the froth of bubbles and fun, the child emerges squeaky-clean and, after a brisk towel dry, is ready to be trundled off to bed for a good night’s sleep. Appelt’s (Rain Dance, p. 654, etc.) cheery rhymes capture all the magic of tub time for toddlers: wacky shampoo hairdos, oodles of bubbles, and more. Playful verses deftly express the universal delight all children have in splashing about. An abundance of nonsense words combined with the exuberant rhymes make for rib-tickling read-aloud sessions. “Bubbles, bubbles in the tubbles, / splish, splash, splooshy scrubbles. / Glimmer, glitter through the air. / Bubbles, bubbles everywhere.” Kosaka’s (Let’s Count the Raindrops, p. 662, etc.) illustrations are ideal for young readers; the simple layout of the full-bleed spreads feature large-scale pictures of the tot merrily washing up. The subtle humor of the illustrations, conveyed through the animated expressions of the child’s toys, mirrors the jaunty tenor of the verses. Jolly fun for little ones. (Picture book. 2-5)