Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs

Silly Dilly Songs

by Alan Katz, David Catrow (Illustrator)

'As a kid who grew up thinking "Baby, baby, stick your head in gravy" was the national anthem, I really like how Alan Katz and David Catrow have written and illustrated such funny songs! Kids of all ages are gonna love the new lyrics to their old favorite tunes. It doesn't get any silly dillier than this!' Rosie O'Donnell

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, Music, Humor, Fiction, Folklore

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2002

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun read (Er, um, sing!) aloud!

[Jess Quimby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs written by Alan Katz and illustrated by David Catrow was published by Margaret K. McElderry Books in 2001. This book has 32 pages and the genre is fiction. The lexile level is NP and the guided reading level is Q. This book best accommodates students ages 2 to 8 and in grades prekindergarten to third grade.

Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs is a collection of poems/songs. Alan Katz wrote silly "playground" songs that cover topics such as bath time, picky eating, and bed time. This book is destined to be a hit with any aged students. David Catrows illustrations bring the silly songs to life. This is a great book for new parents and early childhood classrooms.

Although this book best accommodates younger grade levels, I would use it, along with the other books in Alan Katz series, as mentor texts for a sixth grade writing assignment. The assignment would be to pick a favorite song and rewrite the lyrics to make their own silly song. I did this when I was in sixth grade and it was a favorite assignment.

CCSS.W.6.3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

[Emma Hubble · Rating 5 out of 5]

poetry is the bomb

[Shaniah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The genre of this book is poetry and it was published in 2001. This book is so fun and I would recommend it for elementary students.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is copied from Amazon.com, comments about other reviewers tackle specific issues mentioned there.

As other reviewers noted, this book is big on "taboo" subjects - dirty diapers, food fights, cleaning up your bedroom by hiding everything out the window, being carsick.... That should come as no surprise, after all, the cover (which you can see on this site) shows a naked boy flying out of the bathtub. This sort of material will mildly shock most children and they'll find it hilarious, but if you don't think it's appropriate for your family, read this book before you buy it.

The tunes to the songs in this book should be familiar to most children approaching school age. I can tell you my nieces know all but one of them (Polly Put the Kettle On) at 4 and 6.5, and while we do like to sing I don't think they're *that* exceptional.

I love the cartoony illustrations as well :)

I will note that, as some reviewers stated, not all the songs scan or rhyme as closely as you'd like. This is frustrating, but honestly, making up parody verses is harder than you think. Doubt this? Try it! It's not that easy! I find they're close enough as to make no nevermind most of the time, but YMMV.

[(NS) Brea M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katz, a comedy writer who has worked on children's programming for Disney and Nickelodeon has created his own "silly dilly" versions of beloved childhood tunes. Kids will rejoice in the hilarious, "I'm Filthy, I'm Dirty," sung to the tune of "It's Raining, It's Pouring," and parents have songs to celebrate, too: "Go Go Go to Bed" is a clever remake of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." With the possible exception of the lesser-known "Polly, Put the Kettle On," most children will be familiar with the original versions of these songs, which will make it easy for them to join right in. Catrow's animated double-spread pictures are at least as silly as the song lyrics, offering action-filled scenes bursting with odd-looking creatures. For an easy enrichment activity, have kids create a silly-dilly adaptation of their own. Ages 3-7 ~Lauren Peterson (Booklist Review)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compilation of poems that can be sung to the tune of familiar children's tunes is likely to incite wild laughter and requests for a refrain. The strange and cute illustrations compliment the poems in a "silly dilly" way as well.

Audience: K-1 for read aloud or sing along; grades 2-3 for guided or independent reading.

Uses: Fun for song times. Could be use for guided reading then sung in the same manner altogether. The use of meter, end rhyme, and repetition in the book would be good for the study of poetry or rhyme. Students may enjoy independently or as a class, writing a poem that is set to the meter of a popular tune.

Additional Notes: Although this book may not be considered "of high literary quality", it still has value in helping to teach rhyme, rhythm, and inspire laughter and fun singing times.

[Jadin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely tickled my fancy. Mr. Katz has taken tunes of old favorite songs and given them all new lyrics. Hilarious and sometimes disgusting(to our delight),this book is a keeper. For example this song sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Stink, Stinky Diaper Change, boy my brother smells so strange. The wonderful lyrics paired with David Catrow's illustrations makes this book fun for everyone. Warning: you will want to sing at the top of your lungs and just slightly out of tune for the sheer fun of it!

[Caitlin Barclay]

Katz brilliantly uses well known songs that every student will know and turns them into funny every-day events in student's lives. Our students will love it and can easily follow along as they learn to read. This is also a great resource for emerging writers as they choose how and what to write about.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has silly songs to the tunes of well known children songs. The students really enjoy singing along with the silly tunes. I would have this in my classroom as an example of lyric writing. It's a great book for students to read like a writer when learning about writing lyrics. In addition to that I would definitely have this book in my class just because the students like it so much.

[Little Miss and the Legomeister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very silly and occasionally gross. Legomeister loves it.

Sometimes I can't keep the tune as I read the words. It's probably partly that I'm not very musically gifted, but also, in a few places, the parodies are a bit off.

I vote two stars but it gets an extra star because the Legomeister loves it.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was clever, and the boys loved it, but I was uncomfortable with the bathroom humor that pervaded much of it. I could also do without the bizarre, uncouth artwork. If there was a way to keep a few of the songs, and leave out all the pictures, it would be a keeper.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly, funny words to common tunes, my kids love to sing these funny songs. ex: (tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean), chorus "food, fight, food fight, there food on the counter and chairs and chairs. food fight, food fight, got tons of meat loaf in my hair"

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny adaptations of famous tunes to "silly dilly songs" like Stinky Stinky Diaper Change, Bobby Put the TV On, Ripped My Favorite T-shirt, and other tunes that kids can relate to.
Great time filler.

[Lauren Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second grade class was obsess with this story because of the funny songs that were presented in the book. I would place this book in my safe place so that whenevr my students are upset they can read this stor and have a good laugh. Sininging sometimes helps to calm someone down.

[Shawna Elenkiwich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was really fun and more than likely a great read for a younger child. It takes common childhood songs and puts different lyrics to the music with funny scenarios. The illustrations were detailed and colorful. I think that any child would enjoy this book.

[Dearborn Public Library Youth Services · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking traditional tunes, Katz turns childhood on its head. With ridiculous illustrations by David Catrow, bathtime, room cleaning and little siblings will never be the same. Kids of all ages love to hear you sing these silly songs.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

People in our library hate me and my co-worker because we started singing these songs. They use new words that you sing to familiar tunes!! SO FUN!!!

Yankee Doodle "Cranky Poodle in my home, Clawing, scratching, howling ..." and it goes on and on!! FUN FUN FUN!!!

[Jovana Garcia]

'as a kid who grew up thinking ' baby , baby stick your head in gravy' was the national anthem , i really like how alankatz and david catrow have written and illustrated such funny songs !!!!!!
kids of all ages are gonna love the new lyrics

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is full of songs put to familiar tunes. Gives great ideas for teachers because you can edit some of the words and get management songs!

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books are some of our favorites. hilarious illustrations to go along with silly lyrics to childhood favorite songs.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book would have been a lot more fun if I had known the tunes to the songs. The songs are silly and I think kids would love it. The pictures in it are very detailed.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real cute book, to make lessons about poetry interesting!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how there were so many different types of songs that children can relate to. I could see these songs being sung to children during "circle time" or in the morning after breakfast.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Literature for Youth. (Module 14- Poetry)

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was seriously fun to read/sing with my girls! They LOVED it!

[Monica Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Poem Book)

Katz, Alan & Catrow, David. Take Me Out of the Bathtub (2001). This book offers fourteen silly poems that are meant to be read in famous tunes like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Take Me Out to the Ballgame. The readers will get a tickle from reading these poems because they involved real-life problems like bath time, sibling rivalries, crazy pets, and bedtime. The pictures are a treat alone because they take up the entire page with sinister smiles on all the characters. David Catrow used watercolors and the texture of the illustrations brings the images to life. Cranky Poodle was one of my favorite poems and images in the book. I would like to read some of the poems to the classes I substitute for, as a treat. They will absolutely enjoy it. The only issue that came up is reading the poems to the tune that was designated to it because what if the reader doesn’t know the tune or can’t keep the tune. I really needed this silly read. It brightened my day and I’m sure it will brighten yours too. Target audience: ages 5-8.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book with lyrics to silly songs set to familiar tunes, and a CD so the reader/listener can sing along. The songs are as follows:
Take me out of the bathtub; the yogurt flies straight from my brother; I’ve been cleaning up my bedroom; stinky stinky diaper change; brother Mitch; go go go to bed; Bobby put the TV on; cranky poodle; ripped my favourite T-shirt; sock in the gravy; give me a break; I have a baby-sitter here with me; I’m filthy, I’m dirty; I’m so carsick.

[Gabby Kasnowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a poetry book, that is compromised of silly songs/poems that can be sung to traditional tunes such as "Take me out to the ballgame". Honestly, this book could be used for any grade. It is geared towards younger children, but I was laughing when I read some of the songs and I believe any grade would enjoy them.

[Sierra Wishard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copyright: 2001

Genre: Poetry

Comment: A book full of different poems that have a rhythm off nursery rhymes. I found the poems to be very entertaining and humorous.

Used: I think this would be a great book to have in your school library to share during lunch time or other spare moments. I feel the students would enjoy them completely and give them a brain break.