Module 9 - Take Me Out of the Bathtub

Book Cover Image

Book Summary

Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs puts a new spin on classic children's songs. "I've Been Cleaning Up My Bedroom" parodies "I've Been Working on the Railroad." Fourteen children's song are given a zany rewrite from Katz and Catrow.

Written by Alan Katz
Illustrated by David Catrow

APA Reference of Book

Katz, A. (2001). Take me out of the bathtub and other silly dilly songs. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Impressions

This is an enjoyable book for preschool through elementary school. Young students will enjoy reading poetry to the tune of songs that they know well. Parents may struggle with some of the songs if they are not very familiar with the original tunes. The word choices are creative and will make readers laugh. The hilarious and ultra colorful pictures add to the silliness of the poems. The watercolor, colored pencil and ink illustrations fill each double page spread with varying depth and complexity. Overall a great book. The version containing the audio CD will help many enjoy the book to its fullest.  

Professional Review

Gr 3-5 --This hilarious collection goes straight to the heart of playground humor. What made "On Top of Spaghetti" such an integral part of popular culture is what makes these selections so equally successful. Well-known songs like "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean," and "I've Been Working on the Railroad" become-with a wink, a poke, and nod--"Take Me Out of the Bathtub," "The Yogurt Flies Straight from My Brother," and "I've Been Cleaning Up My Bedroom." Some of these transformations are so clever that kids will want to burst into song immediately. Imagine your next patron singing, "Oh give me a break/'Cause I made a mistake/And my library book's overdue" to the tune of "Home on the Range." The watercolor illustrations are equally entertaining, with exaggerated features and situations giving them a cartoon look. "Go Go Go to Bed" depicts an exhausted mom slumped in a chair with toys and a child literally bouncing off the ceiling above her. There's something here to tickle most funny bones.

Marino, J. (2001). Take me out of the bathtub and other silly dilly songs. School Library Journal, 47(4), 132.

Library Uses

It could be used with older students to create their own silly dilly versions of the songs or a song that they like. Students love watching song parodies on YouTube and they will enjoy creating some of their own.