From Publishers Weekly
With a passion approaching that of Ernie for his rubber ducky, the young narrator extols the joys of trotting out so many tub toys at bathtime that "there's not a spot for me!" As ablution accoutrements accumulate, first-time illustrator Calderon's digital pictures employ the kind of exaggerated, plasticine-textured characterizations (complete with oversize heads), vertiginous perspectives (one of which displays the narrator's skinny rear to great comic effect) and vaguely retro gestalt that will make fans of Nickelodeon animation feel right at home. Among the many sight gags are the boy's Rube Goldberg-like contraptions; he uses a toy crane to lower his "windup froggy friend" into the drink and devises an elaborate conveyor belt to ease the embarkation of the rest of his animal figures (as well as the family dog). In rhyming text, Shannon and Warner, a mother/son team also making their children's book debut, alternate between enumerating ever-escalating groups of toys and adding in the child's last-minute inspirations ("Four blocks fall through the foam, / And I can't forget my astronaut/ inside his spaceship home"), so that readers can't keep track any better than the narrator. Ultimately, the words, set in a bouncy, 1960s-styled typeface, function more as visual punctuation than narrative engine anyway it's in Calderon's over-the-top pictures that the fun runneth over. Ages 4-7.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-A bug-eyed boy appears to be eager to have an evening soak. As soon as his father calls out "Bath time!," the child is off and running. However, it soon becomes clear that his enthusiasm lies not in taking a bath, but in filling the tub until it "is crammed so full of toys/there's not a spot for me!" As their silly son scampers pell-mell about the house gathering more playthings to add to his pile, Dad's frustration causes him to change into a pointy-toothed shark while Mom becomes a purple octopus sporting a pearl bracelet. The array of items that is heaped into the tub runs the gamut from the typical-rubber duck, frog, and boats-to the more bizarre-noodle strainer, eggbeater, and funnel. Beginning with endpapers that show a shower curtain emblazoned with yellow ducks, the colorful, computer-generated artwork is eye-catching. Children will get a laugh out of this story told in rhyme-and maybe a few ideas.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WICopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Midwest Book Review, November 2002
"The rhyming text and clever illustrations make for a perfect scamper of a story."


RAINY DAY CORNER BOOK REVIEWS, September 2002
. . .truly a very special and extra-silly book. . .belly laughs . . .good getting-clean fun.


EARLY CHILDHOOD AT BELLA ONLINE, September 2002
The boys loved it! . . .offers some educational value as well. . . a fun and enjoyable addition to your library.


CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, October 2002
" . . .will definitely tickle every funny bone . . .a must-have book for families."


PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY, October 2002
" . . .many sight gags . . .the fun runneth over."


THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE (Under the Covers Column), September 14, 2002
"When it comes to fun in the tub, there's no such thing as too much."


A Spectrum Home & School Magazine GOOD READ!, October, 2002
" . . .the child to whom you are reading . . .will be surprised and entertained . . ." A Fall Picture Book Potpourri pick!


The Baytown Sun Newspaper, October 27, 2002
" . . .perfect read for kings of the bathtub . . .delightful . . ."


Arcata Eye Newspaper, October 8, 2002
"TUB TOYS a hit with Mad River Children's Center!. . .engaging . . .the children can relate to it . . .illustrations are hilarious."


Book Description
Tub Toys Terry Miller Shannon and Timothy Warner Illustrations by Lee Calderon Full-color, 32 pages,9 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches,Ages 4 to 7 "Get in!" I hear Daddy call, but I have just begun. I know I need more tub toys or my bathing won’t be fun. The water’s running, bubbles bubbling, time to grab some toys. One duck, two trucks, three bottles…how much can a tub hold? Even the bath-shy will relish the rambunctious rhymes in this ballad of a bubble-loving bather and his over-the-top attempts to assemble his army of toys. Good to the last—surprise!—drop.


Card catalog description
When his father calls out "Bath time," a young boy starts gathering all of the toys that will make his bathing fun.


From the Publisher
Perfect for luring hesitant bathers to the bath Promising first-time illustrator


About the Author
For their first children’s book, the mother/son writing team of Terry Miller Shannon and Timothy Warner learned the art of tub toy bathing from Tim’s son, Liam, who lives with his dad in Northern California. Grandma lives on the Oregon coast. First-time illustrator Lee Calderon lives in Southern California with his bubbly wife, two kids, and a nosy beagle.

ANNOTATION

When his father calls out "Bath time," a young boy starts gathering all of the toys that will make his bathing fun.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

With a passion approaching that of Ernie for his rubber ducky, the young narrator extols the joys of trotting out so many tub toys at bathtime that "there's not a spot for me!" As ablution accoutrements accumulate, first-time illustrator Calderon's digital pictures employ the kind of exaggerated, plasticine-textured characterizations (complete with oversize heads), vertiginous perspectives (one of which displays the narrator's skinny rear to great comic effect) and vaguely retro gestalt that will make fans of Nickelodeon animation feel right at home. Among the many sight gags are the boy's Rube Goldberg-like contraptions; he uses a toy crane to lower his "windup froggy friend" into the drink and devises an elaborate conveyor belt to ease the embarkation of the rest of his animal figures (as well as the family dog). In rhyming text, Shannon and Warner, a mother/son team also making their children's book debut, alternate between enumerating ever-escalating groups of toys and adding in the child's last-minute inspirations ("Four blocks fall through the foam, / And I can't forget my astronaut/ inside his spaceship home"), so that readers can't keep track any better than the narrator. Ultimately, the words, set in a bouncy, 1960s-styled typeface, function more as visual punctuation than narrative engine anyway it's in Calderon's over-the-top pictures that the fun runneth over. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature - Debra Briatico

Bath time has never been so much fun! This delightful book features a young bathing-enthusiast who wants to make his bubble bath more exciting by tossing all of his favorite toys into the tub. After all, what if he's submerged in the water and he can't find his must-have, wind-up froggy friend? In an effort to have everything within reach, the young lad painstakingly hurls each of his selections into the tub one by one￯﾿ﾽa ducky, a beach ball, a noodle strainer, two trucks, an eggbeater, three empty bottles, blocks, a spaceship home, a long parade of animals, a plastic book, five ships, a funnel, and much more. During his manic dash for goods, his parents begin to lose their patience with him. In fact, his father temporarily turns into an angry shark and his mother briefly morphs into an irritated octopus. When all is said and done, the young boy finally climbs into the tub and discovers that there's no room in the tub for him. Instead of plunging into the warm water, he happily sits atop his tall pile of toys with nary a drop of water in sight. Parents and kids will laugh out loud as they read this hilarious tale. The silly rhymes and comical illustrations will definitely tickle every funny bone in the house. This is a must-have book for families with young children. After reading this whimsical romp, kids will soon exclaim, "Rub-a-dub-dub, let's head to the tub!" 2002, Tricycle Press,

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1-A bug-eyed boy appears to be eager to have an evening soak. As soon as his father calls out "Bath time!," the child is off and running. However, it soon becomes clear that his enthusiasm lies not in taking a bath, but in filling the tub until it "is crammed so full of toys/there's not a spot for me!" As their silly son scampers pell-mell about the house gathering more playthings to add to his pile, Dad's frustration causes him to change into a pointy-toothed shark while Mom becomes a purple octopus sporting a pearl bracelet. The array of items that is heaped into the tub runs the gamut from the typical-rubber duck, frog, and boats-to the more bizarre-noodle strainer, eggbeater, and funnel. Beginning with endpapers that show a shower curtain emblazoned with yellow ducks, the colorful, computer-generated artwork is eye-catching. Children will get a laugh out of this story told in rhyme-and maybe a few ideas.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews