Does an Elephant Take a Bath?

Bathing is an important part of every young child's day. It's also an important part of some animals' days. In Does an Elephant Take a Bath?, children will learn why both animals and people need to keep themselves clean.

Children's Literature

As part of the "Early Experiences" series, this picture book along with the others posits a series of improbable situations. It is interesting that the author chooses an elephant, because in some cases they do get baths and generally enjoy the water as noted in other books, but in the wild they tend to use their trunks to spray water all over themselves. The other animals featured have other ways to keep clean—some like zebras take a dust bath to get rid of fleas and ticks; others use their rough tongues to groom themselves and their young. Many primates groom each other by picking bugs and debris from their fur. People take baths and showers to keep clean and some use the services of manicurists, hairdressers, and barbers to help them stay well-groomed. Like the other books in the series this one ends with a question—"How do you keep clean?" The illustrations are done in a cartoon style which makes the lesson easier to swallow. The final scene and endpapers are also amusing.

Fred Ehrlich, a pediatrician and child psychiatrist, has spent dozens of years advising families on the emotional and physical care of young children. He is the author of many highly acclaimed children's books.

Emily Bolam's first children's book was published upon her graduation from art school. She has been creating board books and picture books ever since. She lives in Brighton, England.