Module 14 - Take Me Out of the Bathtub

Bibliography

Katz, A. (2001). Take Me Out of the Bathtub and other silly dilly songs. (D. Catrow, Illus.). New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Summary

This book is a collection of unique, silly poems about kids: A boy who’s been sitting too long in the bathtub and wants to get out; a food fight between siblings; a girl having to clean up her bedroom; a baby brother’s stinky diaper; a kid who doesn’t want to go to bed; a kid with an overdue library book; a kid playing in the mud; and a girl who gets carsick, just to name a few. Each poem is set to a familiar tune, such as “London Bridge,” “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring,” “Rockabye Baby,” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

My Thoughts

Such a delightful book!  I loved it because the poems were amusing and imaginative.  I especially loved that I could sing these silly poems to familiar tunes.  The illustrations were amazing.  I think children will love this book.  The front cover of the book lists an age group of 2-6, but I think kids of all ages will get a kick out of this book.

Reviews

“Songwriter and television comedy writer Katz provides ludicrous lyrics to 14 traditional tunes, offering playful parodies on some familiar routines.  To the tune of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” a boy wearing roller skates claims he has been soaking so long in the tub that he “used one, two, three bars of soap/ Take me out. . . I’m clean!”  Other amusing entries include “I’ve Been Cleaning Up My Bedroom” (sung to “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”), in which a girl tidies her room by shoving all of her belongings “out the door,” which Catrow interprets quite literally (he shows her bureau, goldfish, etc., piling up in the back yard), and “Give Me a Break” (sung to the tune “Home on the Range”), introducing a child whose library book is long overdue.  A few songs do not scan so well (e.g., this verse set to the tune of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”: “My brother flicks peas with his fork and/ They zip down my shirt with a splat/ Next I see a big piece of pork land/ On my head like it’s a new hat!”).  But the subjects (a sibling with a stinky diaper, a cranky poodle – think “Yankee Doodle”) teamed with Catrow’s outlandish illustrations, as hyperbolic as the words, will have kids giggling as they sing.”

Zaleski, J., D. Roback, J.M. Brown, J. Britton. (April 2001). [Review of the Book Take Me Out of the Bathtub and other silly dilly songs by Alan Katz]. Publishers Weekly 248(16), p 63.

Ideas for Use

This would be a wonderful story time book in which you could sing the poems to the children rather than reading them.  Also, the children could be involved by repeating the lines of the poems/songs.

Module 13 - Rapunzel's Revenge

Bibliography

Hale, S. and D. Hale.  (2008). Rapunzel’s Revenge.  (Illus., N. Hale). New York: Bloomsbury

Summary

Rapunzel believes she is the daughter of Gothel and that she has always lived in Gothel’s castle, until the day that she sneaks over the wall to see what is on the other side.  Rapunzel comes face to face with her real mother, who works in Gothel’s mines, and learns (or remembers) the truth of her kidnapping.  Gothel’s guards force Rapunzel back across the wall.  To keep Rapunzel quiet, Gothel has Rapunzel locked up in a tower in Carrion Glade, where there is some powerful growth magic.  After four years, Rapunzel’s hair has grown long enough that she uses her two long braids as a lasso to help her escape the tower.  Set on freeing her mother from the mine and destroying Gothel’s magic, Rapunzel inadvertently finds herself accompanied by a cowboy named Jack.  The pair soon become wanted criminals, but they are able to elude capture as they make their way back to Gothel’s villa, making many friends along the way.  In the end, Rapunzel and Gothel have a showdown, resulting in the destruction of Gothel and her magic.

My Thoughts

Two major differences between this telling of Rapunzel and others stand out in my mind.  First is that this story is told as a graphic novel.  Second is that it is more of a western.  These two facts make me think that this book would appeal to boys a lot more than in any other version of Rapunzel.  I liked that it was so different and that Rapunzel was more like a western cowgirl with braids as her lasso.  I liked that the book was full of adventure and heroic acts such as killing the giant water serpent and ridding one town of all the vicious coyotes.  I like that, unlike other versions of the story, Rapunzel does not wait for her prince to come and save her – she takes matters into her own hands.

Reviews

“Rapunzel lives in a grand villa with good food, loyal servants, and her “mother,” or so she thought, Gothel.  Outside the walls the people work hard for very little.  One day Rapunzel sneaks out of the villa and finds her real mother working in the mines as a slave.  When Rapunzel lets Gothel feel her wrath, she is taken far, far away to a magical garden where she is imprisoned in a tree.  Although the main element of the fairytale remains the same – Rapunzel’s hair grows long enough to aid in her escape – the similarities end there.  This Rapunzel takes us on a rollicking, adventure-filled journey through the countryside where she meets up with Jack (owner of a magic bean and “Goldy” the goose) who follows her and helps to reunite her with her true mother.  This wonderfully illustrated graphic novel adds spark and excitement to the tale.  The bright colors and duller tones distinguish between the haves and the have nots.  Rapunzel and Jack are unique characters, and the dialogue allows that uniqueness to shine through. This is a fun read for all ages.”

Scott, K. (Nov/Dec 2008). [Review of the book Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale]. Library Media Connection, 27(3), p. 80

Ideas for Use

I think this would be a fun read as a book club book for kids/teens, or as a class book for struggling readers.