BEASTY BATH

A loving mother catches her beast for the start of a beloved bedtime ritual. Into the bath the boy goes, washing all his parts, shampooing and shining. Throughout it all, he changes into various beasts—dinosaur, pterodactyl, Loch Ness, lion. The routine continues as he dries off, cleans his “fangs” and gets tucked into bed surrounded by stuffed versions of the creatures he’s been imitating. The final spread pictures him asleep in a jungle with all his beasty friends, while his mother sends him off to slumber: “The jungle is quiet, all is at peace, / good night, sleep tight, my sweet / little beast.” The rhythm of the rhyming couplets is perfect for a bedtime read-aloud, while the illustrations provide a chance for pretending. (Picture book. 3-7)