A Toot in the Tub

The young boy in this rhyming story is so very conscientious. He is respectful, helpful and considerate, both to family and neighbours. He rhymes his way through the day by helping out, bringing in laundry, rescuing cats from trees, raking leaves and assisting with meals at home by setting the table, preparing food, serving and finally clean-up. He is very proud of being a good boy and offers advice to the reader that being helpful and well-mannered is a priority. Upon completing all of his chores, it’s time for some lighthearted fun where our young hero allows himself some relaxation by tooting in a tub full of bath bubbles. Tooting expresses his wild side.

Tooting certainly comes naturally to humans and is a topic that brings giggles to young children and adults alike. This conversation will continue within the family to understand that tooting can happen anywhere and that everybody does it. This is nothing to be embarrassed about. To help with the discussion about manners and kindness, I would have liked to have seen a name for the young boy presented in the story where calling him by name rather than as “the boy in the story” would personalize him and perhaps help the discussion along. Although it’s great for children to see other children being good, the boy’s address to the reader on this topic felt too didactic. His advising children to use their manners, not to shout, to be kind to all living things can be a little overwhelming for a young child to be so very responsible. Although I agree that children should be helpful to elders, the story lacks friendship with neighbourhood children where all of the same lessons are learned through play.

Tara Fleming’s illustrations are bright, cheerful and expressive. They illustrate how family and neighbours interact and most importantly express the joy our main character experiences when tooting in the tub.

View Nicolette Little read A Toot in the Tub on YouTube.