As many parents and caregivers know, getting kids excited about bath time is a pretty daunting task. As it turns out, the prospect of stopping fun activities like reading, playing, or watching videos to get clean isn’t really a big draw for many little ones. However, with the right supplies on hand — bubbles, bath toys, and warm cozy towels — bathtime can be made into a fun part of kids’ daily routines. We’ve collected seven books that also get little ones amped for bathtime by helping them visualize how fun it can be to splash down and wash up.
Get Out of My Bath! by Britta Teckentrup
Ellie the elephant is so excited to be taking her bath; she loves to play with her rubber duck and get squeaky clean. Unfortunately, she can’t get any privacy! When other animals like Flamingo and Crocodile join her in the bath, she begins to feel frustrated. Can the reader help her find her happy place again? Featuring interactive text that allows the reader to immerse themselves in the story, this one will have little readers raring to hit the suds.
Bird Bath by Steve Antony
The author and illustrator of the beloved Mr. Panda series introduces a new group of animal pals: four fluffy little chicks in various pastel shades who are more than ready for a spiffing up. The adorable critters ready their supplies for bathtime: sponge, soap, shampoo, and bath toys? Check. Dipping into the tub and cavorting in the bubbles, the four feathered friends have a lovely time — but wait, does someone else need a bath too? An adorable twist ending for the chicks is sure to leave readers of all ages smiling.
Kittens Do Not Care for Baths by Ali Rutstein, Illustrated by Niña Nill
Dad has everything ready for Maya’s bath, but when he calls her inside for bathtime, Maya refuses. After all, Maya is a kitten (today), and kittens don’t like baths. They do not care for them at all, and since she is a kitten, she will climb a tree instead. How can Dad coax his stubborn kiddo down from the branch and convince her that she can’t just get clean by licking the dirt off? Little ones with active imaginations will love this one, as will cat lovers, but the story will convince them both that the best clean is the bathtub kind.
I Dig Bathtime by Brooke Jorden, Illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko
Big machines are always getting dirty, from excavators to steamrollers to bulldozers to backhoes. And if you think that they like it that way, well, you’re half right! Sure, these machines love getting dirty, but they also love to get clean during bathtime. In fact, after a long day of playing in the mud and muck, there’s nothing they love more than a refreshing bath. Perfect for little fans of heavy machinery, this is a great way to convince them that even the roughest and toughest vehicles enjoy the process of getting cleaned up.
Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems
Everyone loves the Pigeon, so we’d be remiss to leave out that loveable featherbrained hothead’s foray into the world of hygiene. The bus driver has requested that the readers help convince Pigeon that it’s bathtime, but as is his way, the Pigeon is absolutely refusing to admit that he even needs a bath, despite being noticeably grimy from head to toe. Humorous deflection, bargaining, and temper tantrums ensue until even the flies are turned off by the avian’s odor, and are sure to keep little ones rolling with laughter.
Around the World in a Bathtub by Wade Bradford, Illustrated by Micha Archer
For kiddos curious about international cultures, this bathtime read might be just the thing to pique their interest in bathtime. Traveling around the globe to learn about how bathtime is conducted in a variety of cultures — from an ofuro in Japan to a hammam in Turkey to a maqii for one Alaskan Yup’ik family — readers learn about what makes the act of washing off the day different, as well as all the ways that these families are the same; namely, that little ones might be reluctant to get into a bath, but are often just as reluctant to get out!
The Rainbow Snail & Friends by Karin Åkesson
Now, this is a truly clever concept for a bathtime book — one that can be brought straight into the tub! Adapted from the lovable book The Rainbow Snail, this waterproof title features illustrations that change color when submerged in water, letting young readers create magic while they get scrubbed up at the same time. Åkesson’s animal characters are charming and sure to draw the interest of little ones, especially as their rainbow colors come to life.
Getting a stubborn kiddo into the tub for bathtime can often be a chore, but hopefully, these fun reads will help convince them of how enjoyable it can be to wash up. Happy reading!
To see more of our favorite kids’ book picks, check out our article on 7 Books for Little Plant Lovers.
To see all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
