BERNARD'S BATH

Bernard, an elephant, is cut from the same reluctant mold as Russell Hoban's Frances with her bedtime finaglings and Rosemary Wells's Edward the ever-unready bear (p. 1437). Bernard's particular reluctance is tied to the bath. Grandmother, mother, and father all tempt Bernard with toys, bubbles, cooing, but ``No bath,'' says the child to every solicitation. As each of the adults clambers into the water and starts to have a ball, Bernard has second thoughts: ``Maybe bath.'' Finally he has to scream to be heard over the hubbub in the tub: ``Bath!'' Goodman (Songs From Home, 1994, etc.) offers a look at adults practicing what they preach, a tactic much more honorable than the trickery, threats, and pandering found in some books targeted at balkers. Catalano's pastels are mostly raucous and fun, featuring Indian elephants whose bathroom is suitably ample; a heavy use of black mutes the proceedings considerably, giving this a weirdly sepulchral feel. Nevertheless, a good-time lesson. (Picture book. 2-5)