He might look like a mild-mannered, ’50s-era five-year-old, but when there’s trouble in the tub, he’s Bathman! He’s swift! He’s clean! He defends the unwashed! With the aid of, and sometimes despite the impediment of, the denizens of the tub, Bathman defeats Cap’n Squeegee and saves Ducky from a drain worse than death. Only the voice of his assistant (mom) calling him to dinner can pull him away from his superhero duties. Pelletier’s first effort deftly mixes bath-time antics with superhero bravado and a touch of hard-boiled detecting. Elwell’s pastel comic-style panels are a perfect vehicle, full of word bubbles (of course) and zip. Some of the humor is aimed at parents, but the action-packed illustrations will keep listeners attentive. Read with the right panache, this will be regularly requested even by the most dedicated bath avoider. (Picture book. 2-5)
