THE BEAR IN THE BATHTUB

There really is a bear in the bathtub, and so, for the first time ever, Andrew gets away without his nightly bath. Neither Andrew's mother nor his father nor the policeman nor the fire department can remove the bear, and after three days without a bath Andrew is so dirty that the kids at school won't play with him. Andrew himself finally fills the tub with water, soap, and toy boats, and gives the bear a bath--whereupon the bear, now satisfied, climbs out, hugs Andrew, and leaves through the window. Then Andrew takes a bath. A winningly offhand bit of absurdity, shrewdly attuned and amusingly pictured.