Customer Reviews

To the Tub

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Peggy Perry Anderson's To the Tub is all about a young frog's negotiations to avoid the bathtub. When Joe's father announces it's time for the tub, Joe's response is "Okay, but..." Sound familiar? Joe proceeds to collect all the toys he needs, and get in a little playtime along the way. I like that I can use the illustrations to discuss what Joe is really doing. Is he getting his ducky or playing on the slide? Is it okay to do both after Father told him it was bath time? Getting the ducky might be a reasonable request, but playing on the slide is frustrating for Father.
Eventually, Father becomes so overloaded with Joe's toys that he trips on a beach ball, and all the toys end up in a mud puddle. Joe and his father solve this problem in froggy fashion, by enjoying a mudbath! In the end, it's Mother Frog who ends up enforcing the bath - for both Joe and his father!
I'm kind of tickled by the fact that Mother ends up laying down the law - does that happen in your house, too? I don't begrudge anyone a good mudbath, but I did talk with B about negotiations and decision making. Is it ok to ask to do what you want? Yes. Will you always get your way? No, and it's not ok to do it anyway. To the Tub isn't a heavy duty lesson teaching book, but I don't really like those anyway. I like it when books lead the way to good discussions without feeling like lectures.
Also reviewed at Little Sprout Books.

Peggy gave me this book, autographed to my children, in 1996 when we went to the same church. I didnt know then what a big difference this one book would have to us. It actually improved our love of books. Its been my children's favorites ever since and its held up through 3 childrens' handling and reading. The story is colorful, imaginative and everyone loves it! I'm so proud of her books, especially this one, that has continued to warm our hearts even after 4 years of reading it frequently. If you want a book that will endure years of reading and enjoyment, the kind of book that gets passed down in the family.. this is the one to get. You will treasure this one always, like we do. Debbie and Family