A SCRUB IN THE TUB
by Jan Thomas ; illustrated by Jan Thomas
Pig puts off bath time as long as possible.
“Pee-ew! Someone needs a scrub in the tub!” says Rabbit. “Absolutely!” agrees Weasel. “Who needs a scrub in the tub?” asks the cheerfully oblivious Pig, surrounded by a greenish-yellow cloud of stench. “You, Pig!” says Rabbit. But Pig won’t listen. The two friends move behind a sweet-smelling bush as they attempt to persuade Pig to bathe. Pig tries a few other options: a quick splash of water, a mud bath, and even “a scrub with the shrub.” Finally, Pig gives in to their entreaties. The bubbles, the warm water, and the scrubbing brush are so pleasant that Pig wants to share the experience. The newly pink and clean Pig invites Rabbit and Weasel into the tub; it’s so much fun that they may never leave again! Speech balloons filled with accessible, cheerfully rhyming text and repeated refrains are chortle-inducing—particularly Weasel’s constant echo of “Absolutely!” The snappy, high-energy dialogue is matched by Thomas’ trademark cartoons, which feature boldly colored backdrops and simply drawn but hyperexpressive characters. Perfect for rereads, this tale also gently acknowledges that friendship sometimes means having hard conversations.
Peer pressure pays off in this punchy tale of a pungent pig.
(Picture book. 4-7)