Marjet Huiberts and Milja Praagman
Ebbie in the Washbasin
An inventive book for toddlers that encourages language development
The bright-blue monkey Ebbie needs a wash. ‘Do you want to go in the bath, Ebbie?’ the book says. ‘No, Ebbie does not want to go in the bath. The bath is too big.’ This clever dialogue form invites interaction between book, parent and toddler.
Ebbie does not want to go in the shower or in the washing machine. That last suggestion actually makes him cry: ‘It was a joke! Sorry! Kiss?’ Ebbie wants to sit in the washbasin.
Playfully, this perfect text presents not only new words, but also the concept of comforting someone, the routine of washing (soap, rinsing, drying), opposites (warm/cold, dirty/clean), parts of the body (soap on your tummy/legs), and there’s room for a bit of fun too, because when Ebbie is covered in soapy suds, he looks just like a snowman! In combination with the clear, simple illustrations, this is a textbook example of a successful read for toddlers. Part two (published spring 2020) is Ebbie zonder speen (Ebbie Without a Dummy).
