Naughty Ninja Takes a Bath

PreS-Gr 2--Naughty Ninja needs a bath. As his father prepares his bath he tells the boy not to say the phrase "Naughty Ninja to the rescue," as he always rues the havoc that ensues when his son springs into action. Naughty Ninja ends up battling poisonous flies, an angry alligator, and even samurai warriors in an attempt to keep his dad out of trouble. Lines and dashes are used to show movement throughout the book. The boy's various ninja moves are captured in this manner as well. This narrative is filled with humorous dialogue between father and son. The perspective shifts about and appears to follow respective happenings, which adds a sequential element to the narrative. Drawings are done in a fun cartoon style. Eye-catching illustrations of water burst and swirl through many of the book's scenes. Children will be able to easily spot objects that contribute to the boy's action-packed and evolving interpretation of bathtime events. Important text is bolded for emphasis. VERDICT This book does a wonderful job of demonstrating how a child's imagination can turn any ordinary experience into a rollicking adventure.--Deanna Smith, Pender County Public Library, NC