Bears in the Bath

It’s bath time for the four small bears from Bears on Chairs and Bears in Beds, and boy do they ever need it: “Dust and dirt smudge/ Floppy Bear./ Are those cobwebs/ in her hair?/ Fuzzy Bear/ trudges in./ Mud spatters her/ from toes to chin!” But despite Big Brown Bear’s prodding, the four little bears aren’t ready to get clean—at least not until Big Brown leads by example. Walker’s acrylic paintings make the bears as adorable and personable as ever, and Parenteau’s peppy descriptions of their in-the-tub antics (“They toss the bubbles./ They giggle and shriek”) may persuade a few reluctant bathers to dive in. Ages 2–5. (Apr.)