Colin Boyd

I laughed out loud, reading this in the children's room at the library. At the same time I was angry at the mom for telling the kid that the monster wants to eat him. And yes, it's a happy ending, as the kid does *not* get eaten but rather goes to play with the monster. Be sure to turn the last page, folks! Are you the people who rush through life and miss out on endpapers, the fabulousness of mud, the smell of roses, etc.?! Anyway, only 3.5 stars rounded up because some kids will give it show more one, some will give it five, and so you and your child will have to read it for yourself. show less

This review published by Brigham Young University's The Children's Book and Media Review

After you take a bath, all the dirty water goes down the drain to feed the bath monster. Jackson loves everything about getting dirty, like playing in mud, climbing trees, and rolling down hills. His mother tells him that he has to take a bath or the Bath Monster, whose second favorite food is dirty bath water, will get him. Jackson decides that he doesn’t believe in the Bath Monster so he won’t take show more any more baths, but the Bath Monster still believes in Jackson. When he doesn’t get his nightly meal, the Bath Monster has to go find a way to get his first favorite food instead.

This book is an amusing approach to why children should take baths that does not include germs or the practical aspects of being dirty. The illustrations have a lot of brown in them, emphasizing the dirtiness of Jackson and some of his favorite activities. The Bath Monster is illustrated in a way that he looks scary, but also cute enough that he is unlikely to scare young readers. Some parents might not like that Jackson in the end chooses not to have a bath and go get more messy, but others will enjoy the whimsical nature of the book. show less

I gave this book 3 stars just because it ends on a kind of scary note. Some preschoolers will be alright with it. But unless I was advertising a scary story program, I don't think I would read it in a storytime. But its a funny scary and lends well to an Arsenic and Old Lace humor. I liked the book, despite its abrupt scary-ish ending.