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62nd out of 273 books
—
181 voters
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub
by
Audrey Wood (Goodreads Author),
Don Wood
In this delightful story, the king refuses to leave his bathtub and rule the kingdom. “Beauty aside, this also has a panache and sly wit that will please children and their parents, who will be called on to peruse the book again and again.
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
October 10th 1985
by Harcourt Children's Books
(first published 1985)
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“King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub” is a wonderfully humorous story from the creative mind of Audrey Wood, along with beautiful illustrations from Don Wood. This book also won a Caldecott Honor Book Award, which it richly deserves this honor as the book is a great humorous experience that many children would enjoy for many years to come.
Audrey Wood’s comical storytelling of this book makes it an instant classic to read as it is full of witty humor and clever verses. The scenes that I really enjoyed...more
Audrey Wood’s comical storytelling of this book makes it an instant classic to read as it is full of witty humor and clever verses. The scenes that I really enjoyed...more
7 likes · like · see review
view all 8 comments
This is a funny and superbly illustrated story that will entertain children of all ages. The narrative is simple and repetitive, which will please even toddlers. And the expressions and comic illustrations are fun to pore over for the smallest details. My only complaint is that the illustrations are very dark, and it's best to read this book in a well-lit room; we read our bedtime stories in a dimly lit room and it was a little difficult to see all of the details in the picture.
This book was se...more
This book was se...more
2 likes · like · see review
Sep 18, 2012
Holly Crepps
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picture-storybooks
I have always been a fan of Audrey Wood. Her stories are fun and original, and "King Bidgood's in the Bathtub" is no deviant from this expectation. When King Bidgood refuses to get out of the bathtub, everyone in the castle tries different ways to make him get out. With each attempt, however, King Bidgood finds a way to stay in. The story has a surprise ending where the least expected person of all finally gets King Bidgood to leave the bathtub with a simple solution. This story is funny, and it...more
Oh no! What to do? King Bidgood’s in the bathtub, and he won’t get out! A young page steps out of the bathroom to ask the court for help. The mustached knight is the first to volunteer. He tells the king to get out, it’s time for battle! Unfortunately for the knight, the king decides it will be a water battle with bath toys in the tub! As the day wears on the members of the court are defeated one by one. Finally, the page figures out the solution. He pulls the plug out of the bathtub and out run...more
1. Fantasy
2. This silly yet addicting tale of a king who refuses to get out of the tub and instead tries to do all his everyday activities IN the tub will capture your heart and tickle your funny bone. But will the Page ever be able to get the King out of the tub -in time for dinner?!
3. Critique
a. The repetitive manner of this book will engage young readers and have them shouting the lines right along with you! Its perfectly written for PK and Kindergardeners.
b. The appropriateness of the boo...more
2. This silly yet addicting tale of a king who refuses to get out of the tub and instead tries to do all his everyday activities IN the tub will capture your heart and tickle your funny bone. But will the Page ever be able to get the King out of the tub -in time for dinner?!
3. Critique
a. The repetitive manner of this book will engage young readers and have them shouting the lines right along with you! Its perfectly written for PK and Kindergardeners.
b. The appropriateness of the boo...more
1 like · like · see review
The niece says this one gets three stars, and I think I agree with her on that point. Both of the kids really seemed to be into this story. Maybe it's because they can identify with not wanting to get out of the bathtub once they get in. We were all worried, however, that King Bidgood was going to get a little pruney from all his time in the tub, which is something the kids can also identify with.
The kids laughed in several places, and they were both quite taken with the pictures (which are very...more
The kids laughed in several places, and they were both quite taken with the pictures (which are very...more
Apr 06, 2011
Gundula
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone looking for a fun bath-time book, with great illustrations
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub is a fun, rollicking and engaging bath-time story, although for me, it is the marvelous illustrations that make this story special; the narrative, albeit lively and humorous, is somewhat predictable and rather mundane, especially when compared to the rich detail of the illustrations. In fact, I could readily imagine the illustrations without the narrative, but I could not imagine the narrative without the illustrations. My Goodreads friend Abigail points out in her...more
5 likes · like · see review
this is a fun book about a king who likes taking a bath. the story is short and fun to read, but it’s the illustrations that make this book noteworthy. they are lush and expressive and whimsical and the attention paid to detail is wonderful. the story is simple and if it was illustrated in another style would be like the endless board books simplistically introducing life skills to toddlers. however, this style makes this story an adventure. the pictures perfectly punctuate the prose in the most...more
This is a truly silly tale about a king who just won’t leave the tub, no matter what the enticement. My favorite parts of the book are when unsuccessful members of court leave the bathtub after their encounter with the king. They go in optimistic, with fluffy layers of fancy clothing; they come out defeated and deflated, with their ruffles limp around their ankles. And of course, the best moment is when the young page figures out what to do!
The illustrations are darkly colored oil paintings and...more
The illustrations are darkly colored oil paintings and...more
Apr 11, 2011
Crystal Marcos
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Crystal by:
bath time books, read aloud
My 22 month old daughter loved this book! She was excited about every pages and talked about what was going on while I read the story. She enjoyed the CD in a car ride shortly after. I watched her face (I wasn't driving) and she kept smiling. She is very fond of bath time so she really got a kick out of this book. I was delighted to see her enjoying this book so much. The illustrations are superb, capturing the mood and expressions on everyone's faces so well. It was vibrantly detailed. I am so...more
5 likes · like · see review
Dec 24, 2007
Lanie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
children at heart
Shelves:
children-s-books
This is my all time favorite children's book. I checked it out nearly every single time I went to the library as a kid (probably from age 4-5?). I finally got my own copy for my 16th birthday, I think.
The story is cute, but the most amazing thing is the illustrations. So many details and so much going on. I would spend hours studying the pictures.
The story is cute, but the most amazing thing is the illustrations. So many details and so much going on. I would spend hours studying the pictures.
1 like · like · see review
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub is a Caldecott Honor Book written by Audrey Wood. This is a humorous story about a king, King Bidgood, that will not get out of the bathtub. The Page cries for help and asks if anyone knows how to get him out of the tub. As each new idea arises, King Bidgood always has a way to stay in the tub. The illustrations in this book are wonderful, where there is incredible detail which makes the illustrations appear to be lifelike. I really enjoyed the simple story and the...more
Aug 02, 2012
Christina Taylor
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picturebooks
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub is a rollicking story of an unmannerly king. The marriage of the lyrical text with lush romantic illustrations in oil on pressed board lay bare the opulence of this self-indulgent monarch. The succulent double-page, full-bleed spreads revel in the grandeur of the idle rich and extend the text of this story in which a king refuses to exit his bath despite the best efforts of all at court only to be thwarted by his seemingly helpless page in a show of wit. Although y...more
Jul 17, 2012
June
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents, preschoolers & teachers
I love the ending and have used this for several years in a bath storytime. However, I really love the music in the filmstrip and would recommend the cd or dvd over the book. 7/22/11
Worked really well at PJ time.
Worked really well at PJ time.
1 like · like · see review
May 25, 2010
Stefanie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
eng353,
stay-classy-class-material
This book, about a king in a bath tub is so ridiculous and funny. The page boy in the story calls everyone in the kings room to help get the king out of the bathtub but nothing works. At the end of the story the pictures show that the page is tired and decides to pull the plug. The illustrations were amazing in this book. The pictures and the story line were perfect together, both ridiculous and fun. The costumes of the characters were huge and over the top which only added to the story. The ill...more
This book surprised me. Because it has won a Caldecott Honor, I assumed that it had deeper meaning to it, therefore in that sense I was let down. It reading aloud to a classroom, I am sure it would be a hit. The illustrations are entertaining and fun. When considering the end of the story when tub actually gets empty I think that the kids will be surprised with what happens.
Activities:
- response to literature: before you read the last two pages of the book, stop the read aloud and have the chil...more
Activities:
- response to literature: before you read the last two pages of the book, stop the read aloud and have the chil...more
Feb 23, 2010
L-Angelica Herrera-Vest
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-science-fiction
In Audrey Wood's King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, Caldecott Award winner, published in 2005 (second publication) the king's young page seeks the assistance of the court members in trying to get the king out of the bathtub, "HELP! HELP! CRIED THE PAGE WHEN THE NIGHT GOT DARK. KING BIDGOOD'S IN THE BATHTUB, AND HE WON'T GET OU! OH , WHO KNOWS WHAT TO DO?". They all try to entice the king out of tub but they all fail. Finally, the young page figures out how to get the king out of the bathtub. Don Wo...more
1 like · like · see review
Fantastic illustrations. I used to check this out of my school library once a month or so just to look at the pictures.
1 like · like · see review
Audrey and Don Wood are a great storytelling/illustration team, so after I found out that they created this book, I knew it would be imaginative (and it definitely was). This book won a 1986 Caldecott Honor. King Bidgood does not want to come out of the bathtub, despite his page and court's best intentions. He plans on doing everything in there, from battles, dining, fishing, and merriment. It's not until the page has had enough, that the king finally leaves. It is a very clever but random book,...more
Doreen Platt Wood, Audrey, and Don Wood. King Bidgood's in the Bathtub. San Diego: Harcourt, 1985. Print.
This 1986 Caldecott Honor book, written and illustrated by husband and wife team Don and Audrey Wood, is a hilarious tale about a fun-loving, unruly king who refuses to get out of his bathtub. All the members of the court, including the queen, cannot persuade the king to leave his bath, but the person who finally gets the king to come out makes for a wonderfully funny surprise ending.
"King Bi...more
This 1986 Caldecott Honor book, written and illustrated by husband and wife team Don and Audrey Wood, is a hilarious tale about a fun-loving, unruly king who refuses to get out of his bathtub. All the members of the court, including the queen, cannot persuade the king to leave his bath, but the person who finally gets the king to come out makes for a wonderfully funny surprise ending.
"King Bi...more
Jun 17, 2012
Elizabeth
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
5360-summer-12,
caldecott
I enjoyed this book. The pictures were awesome, you feel like you are at the castle with the page and the King. The page is trying to get the King out of the bathtub. The Knight says he needs to go to battle, so they battle in the bathtub. The Queen says it's time for lunch, so they eat in the bathtub. The Duke says it's time to go fishing, so they fish in the bathtub. The Court says it's time for a dance, so they party in the bathtub. Then the page pulls the plug. I think kids would love this b...more
When King Bidgood refuses to get out of the bathtub, all the people of the castle rush to persuade him to leave his glorious bath. Each new scenario begins with the same refrain and ends with the same result - the person suggesting a brilliant idea ends up in the bath with the king.
This beautifully illustrated story will charm young listeners, especially those that already love a good bath. A great bedtime story, though I'm not sure it's one I'd use for a lesson in the library. Recommended for...more
This beautifully illustrated story will charm young listeners, especially those that already love a good bath. A great bedtime story, though I'm not sure it's one I'd use for a lesson in the library. Recommended for...more
"King Bidgood's in the bathtub and he won't get out!" is the repeated cry throughout the day. Different members of the King's household try to get him out of the bathtub, but the King instead has them join him in the bathtub to carry out their ideas to get him out. The repetitiveness of the book is catching to children who will want to later read it on their own, or read it right along with you. The best part of the book though, the illustrations. You could spend a good amount of time pouring ov...more
(No musical CD in the edition I had.)
I'm a general fan of Audrey and Don Wood's works. I like that they work together on books. And I'll admit that the story in this is tongue-in-cheek funny. And the illustrations are always lavish and detailed, and here quite fun as well. But maybe I'm just a bit disturbed by the nudity in the children's book I just read, and the whole court in the tub.... But I tried very hard to see the humor in this. Which I did. Just not as much as I might have if I hadn't...more
I'm a general fan of Audrey and Don Wood's works. I like that they work together on books. And I'll admit that the story in this is tongue-in-cheek funny. And the illustrations are always lavish and detailed, and here quite fun as well. But maybe I'm just a bit disturbed by the nudity in the children's book I just read, and the whole court in the tub.... But I tried very hard to see the humor in this. Which I did. Just not as much as I might have if I hadn't...more
An oldie but a goodie! King Bidgood won't get out of the bathtub - despite everyone's best efforts to lure him out. Instead, he lures them in to the tub -- complete with lunch, or battle, or fishing to keep them busy!
This Caldecott honor book has rich illustrations that neatly parody period art - their style seems traditional at first glance, but the faces are full of hilariously exaggerated expressions and sight gags abound.
Super fun to read aloud to elementary schoolers or for a one-on-one sto...more
This Caldecott honor book has rich illustrations that neatly parody period art - their style seems traditional at first glance, but the faces are full of hilariously exaggerated expressions and sight gags abound.
Super fun to read aloud to elementary schoolers or for a one-on-one sto...more
Mar 12, 2013
Amber Adams
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
lit-2,
writing-prompts
Great book! This book tells the story of a King who loves to takes baths, and he doesn't want to get out. The Page enlists help of all of the people of the kingdom to get the King out of the tub. Everyone is persuaded to get into the tub. I will use this book in my classroom to have the students write a persuasive letter to the King telling him why he should get out of the bathtub. I previously used this book in my placement for imagery. I read each page to the student and had them draw what the...more
My students (4 & 5 year olds) ADORE King Bidgood, the members of his court, and his bathtub. This is one of those rare and highly treasured pieces of children's literature that brings the same feelings of utter delight whether it's the first reading or the fiftieth. Each reading guarantees laughter, encourages reader participation, and offers new opportunities to delve into the illustrations' rich details. King Bidgood is a classroom read-aloud favorite.
We have read many, many kids' books with Annabelle, and it had not really occurred to me to add them to my shelf. Most of them are fine, not worth mentioning, but there are a few that stand out as my own favorites (and, in most cases, Annabelle's). This was given to us as a present. Annabelle went through a stage of many weeks where we read it several times a day. She's now more or less forgotten it, but I highly recommend it. Gorgeous illustrations; a funny plot.
Although some have complained about the quality of the rhymes, I found this book hilarious. The king won't get out of the bathtub, but unlike a rebellious child, you can't just hoist him out and say, "You're done!" After the Queen and countless courtiers try to lure the king out, it is the little page boy who finally solves the problem. Don Woods' lush paintings, reminiscent of Maxfield Parrish, do indeed show a goodly portion of the portly unclothed king.
Aug 23, 2011
Alison Tripp
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
creative-writing,
sequencing
Audrey Woods is one of my favorite children's book illustrators ever and this book has the type of vivid and lively pictures (settings and characters) that I have come to expect. This book has a fun cast of characters and a refrain that children come to expect. You can experiment with a water table seeing what you can and cannot do in water, have them come up with there own castle settings or describe all of the different details that they see.
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Audrey Wood studied art and drama at the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has owned an operated a book and import store, taught chldren's drama and art, and traveled throughout Mexico and Guatemala studying Indian folk art. She now lives in Hawaii with her talented family (husband Don and son Bruce, who have both collaborated with Audrey by illustrating some of her books).
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