The Tushy Book

My girls were drawn to this book by the cover with the cute baby wearing the glitter covered diaper. I on the other hand had some reservations about the content. Can a book written about your rear end be tastefully done? As I read the book my fears were relieved. The book was very cute and not crude at all. The book has a website that is very cute as well. The site has cards, coloring and activity pages that would be printed and worked on after reading the book.

Don't you just think that's the cutest cover? The little girls undies sparkle! Even the title screams cute! When I saw this book, I knew I had to read and review it! Ms. Manushkin has taken a sometimes taboo subject, children's undersides, and made it fun. Tushy is an old word, not used as often as butt, bottom, rearend, or other words kids use, but it is so much more fun to say. I don't think parents or teachers would object to hearing a child say "tush" or "tushy." I know when I taught kindergarten, I didn't let my children say butt, but know I would smile at the sound of tushy. This book is written for 2 - 5 year old children. I know these kiddos would absolutely love it! Why? Well, for one reason, it's full of rhyme and kids latch on to that. The text is also sing-songy. Children love rhythm and rhyme and this one definitely does that! Each page has no more than 4 lines of text and many of the words are simple so kids could read along with mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, teacher, whomever. Besides, like the book says, "Tushy's so much fun to say." I can just hear children quoting this book. My favorite is, Every tushy's in the back. Every tushy has a crack! Where would you put underwear if your tushy wasn't there? Tracy Dockray really brings this book to life with her illustrations. She has illustrated Beezus and Ramona and other Beverly Cleary books, so you may be familiar with her work. The illustrations are just cute! Children will find more on each page than just what the text is about. Every time I've read it, I've found something new.

What a funny book! Little kids will really crack up from this, and, if their parents are open the the subject matter, they will too. Great ending, summarizing all tushy thoughts in a few pithy lines.

This is a delightful book that children will find funny and friendly and will want to read over and over again. The pictures are charming, but it's Fran Maushkin's text that wins the prize. Hurrah for tushies and The Tushy Book! Barbara Seuling

Finally someone has dared to expose the derriere, and with delightfully droll results! The uninhibited toddler set will relish this book. And those reading it aloud will have a grand time laughing from page to page. I love books like this because they make us all feel so connected to each other and our animal relatives. The illustrations are terrific, but it's the words and charming rhymes that make this book priceless. There's never been such a welcome book on this topic before. Thank you to the author and illustrator.