Posted on by TracyC

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, 1985.

King Bidgood loves being in his bath, but one day, he just doesn’t want to get out!  When the young page realizes that the king is refusing to leave the bath, he calls out to the courtiers, asking what to do about it.

One by one, they try to interest the king in other activities, but each time, he keeps inviting them to join him (fully clothed, although he apparently isn’t, just mostly hidden by bubbles) in order to prove that absolutely everything can be done in the bath.

When the knight says it’s time for battle, they end up having a battle with toy ships in the tub.  When the queen tells him that it’s time to eat, they have a fancy feast right there in the tub.  The king’s activities eventually include a fishing trip and a dance.

In the end, the page is the one who figures out how to put an end to this never-ending bath.

I love the pictures in this book, and the repetition as each person steps forward with a suggestion should appeal to young children.  This book is a Caldecott Honor Book. It is currently available online through Internet Archive.

Posted on by TracyC

Caps for Sale

CapsSale

Caps for Sale written and illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina, 1940.

A peddler who sells caps likes to carry his wares on top of his own head, stacked in order of color.  One day, when he has trouble selling his caps, he decides to take a nap under a tree.  When he wakes up, he is astonished to see that all of his caps are gone!

He looks around frantically for his caps and realizes that the tree is full of monkeys, all wearing his caps!  At first, he doesn’t know what to do about it.  He tries shouting at the monkeys, shaking his fists, and stamping his feet, but it doesn’t help.  The monkeys just imitate everything he does.

CapsSaleMonkeys

Finally, in frustration, he throws his own cap to the ground, and the monkeys do that same thing, giving him back his caps.  The peddler is able to reclaim all of his caps, and he goes on his way.

This book is considered a children’s classic!  The story is simple, but the repetition of the peddler’s attempts to get his caps back and the “monkey see, monkey do” imitation are fun for kids.

The book is currently available online through Internet Archive.