Bath time is the rare part of the day that can go wrong in both directions. Some children treat the tub as an ambush and have to be carried in flat as a plank; others climb in happily and then refuse every offer to come out, negotiating for one more cup, one more boat, one more minute of being a whale. Picture-book authors noticed a long time ago. The shelf is full of dogs who bury the scrubbing brush, cats who fight back, pigs who prefer mud, and one king who has simply moved into the bathtub and shows no sign of leaving.
Drawing from Bookroo’s collection of 99 bath time books, our editors chose twelve that earn their place at seven o’clock: funny read-alouds for the child who refuses, sturdy board books that narrate the routine while it is happening, a first reader, and a few warmer stories for the wind-down afterward. Start with the shortlist, then browse board books for babies and toddlers and picture books for the read-aloud years.
The Pigeon has counterarguments, statistics, and a firm position on exactly how wet water is.
A king will not get out of the bathtub, so his entire court ends up climbing in after him.
A white dog with black spots buries the scrubbing brush and comes home a black dog with white spots.
Baby gets a bubble beard, a motorboat noise, and one very carefully washed hair.
Ellie the elephant’s peaceful soak is invaded by a crocodile, a flamingo, a mouse, and a tiger.
A puppy who is due for a bath finds a mud puddle first, and then a friend named Puddles.
The cat rearranges the family chore list so that “bathe the cat” becomes somebody else’s problem.
A family of wooden bath toys stands on the tub’s edge until one of them slips down the drain.
The faucet becomes a waterfall, the bath mat becomes a shore, and a child sails an entire ocean before bed.
Penguin wakes up in a mood he cannot explain and washes the whole day off in a cold bath.
A girl, her grandmother, and her aunties spend an evening at a Japanese bath house.
Washing a cat, presented as a survival manual with required equipment and casualty warnings.
Sturdy tub routines, splashy rhymes, rubber ducks, and books a wet hand cannot destroy, for ages 0–4.
A tidy pig must learn to make a mess to fit in.
Discover the joy of bath time with playful rhymes and splashes.
Twins turn bathtime into a splashy adventure before bedtime.
A messy dinosaur resists bath time. Can he get clean before bed?
Help Little Rabbit conquer bath time with fun, interactive tasks.
Can you outsmart a lion who hates baths?
Mice on a construction site hide a surprising project. What could it be?
Discover surprises in Baby's bath with lift-the-flap fun.
Discover the joy of bath time through playful bubbles.
Discover playful adventures with adorable babies in a fresh new look.
Delight in babies' joyful water play with captivating photos and rhymes.
Five monkeys get messy, clean up, and then find more trouble. Can they stay clean?
Bath refusers, muddy pets, overflowing tubs, and imaginary voyages for read-aloud listeners and new readers, ages 2–8.
Can Spike make bath time fun for reluctant ducklings?
A tree dragon resists bath time, but could cleanliness be fun too?
Elliot's quest to find a mysterious smell leads to a surprising discovery about hygiene.
Siblings explore the zoo, encountering baboons and balloons, in a playful, double-o word adventure.
A muddy puppy avoids baths until his owner joins the fun.
A bath becomes an adventure with toys, bubbles, and surprises.
A group of princesses and heroes work together to defeat a stinky monster that is terrorizing the land.
A boy's ninja skills turn bath time into a daring rescue mission.
A young otter and his friend Teddy learn to enjoy bath time.
A stinky pug's plan to avoid a bath backfires hilariously.
Chaos erupts as animals squeeze into a bathtub. Who will fit?
Will Maisy choose a bubble bath or playtime with Tallulah?
