A Whale in the Bathtub

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 20, 2016

Review

Bruno can't seem to take a bath because there is a whale in the tub and he is using Bruno's bubblegum smelling bubble bath. Readers will wonder whether Bruno has a great imagination based on his sister, mother, brother and father's response to his predicament citing that he claimed a bear was under his bed and a walrus in the backyard. As the story continues with Bruno asking the whale to leave, they come up with solution of a shower delivered by the whale. Sister realizes in the end there is a whale in the bathtub. A second reading uncovered the bear under the bed. The illustrations are done in colored pencils and some ink. A variety of full-page water action scenes, single spreads of Bruno, and complete backyard layouts enhance and lend humor to the straight forward arguments that Bruno has with the whale and his family. Enjoyable absurdity.

Overall Book Score: very good