Bathe the Cat
By Alice B. McGinty
The Story
A mischievous family cat dodges bath time by scrambling Dad's chore list, so the family ends up mowing the floor, vacuuming the lawn, and mopping the baby instead of doing what they meant to.
Why It's Special
For the kid who thinks bath time is a personal insult, this cat's escape plan is the ultimate act of feline resistance.
- Big idea: Chaos multiplies fast when nobody wants to do the one thing everyone's avoiding — but love (and a bath) wins anyway.
- Vibes: Bouncy, silly, and gleefully chaotic, with rhymes that build toward full-on household pandemonium.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love rhyming and predicting the next silly word
- enjoy stories about sneaky, mischievous pets
- like to spot chaos building page by page
- respond well to seeing everyday family life reflected on the page, including Dad and Papa's household
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: How did the cat manage to scramble up Dad's chore list?
- Imagination: If you were the cat, what job would you switch next — mowing the floor or mopping the baby?
- Feelings & empathy: Why do you think the cat didn't want a bath in the first place?
- Real-life connection: Has your family ever had a cleaning day turn into total chaos?
- Story & problem-solving: How do you think Dad finally brought order back to the house?
