Im Bad is the German edition of Le Bain, a French language wordless book for very young children. It’s one in a series from the experienced and multi-award-winning Belgian illustrator Jeanne Ashbé.

As you might expect, it shows a a little person taking a bath, from getting into the tub to body and hair washing, from drying to putting on a dressing-gown.

The magic of the book lies in the many imaginative stories it tells. First there is the warm relationship between the child and his toy cat, who is both copying the child’s actions and initiating his own games, such as squirting the soap dispenser. The joyful interaction between these two friends really gives the story its heart.

Then there are other goings-on, too, such as the bath duck chatting to the duck on the flannel (below), and the bath whale watching closely as the cat tries on the child’s slippers (final picture).

An adult is present, but only as a reassuring background figure.

In fact there are so many fun things happening that there is a wealth of stuff to talk and laugh about, even with a young child who hasn’t yet started to speak. Even small things, like the expression on the toy cat’s face as he struggles to take off his trousers and the patient support of the child waiting for him to finish (top), offer opportunities for open-ended conversations.

In fact Im Bad (Le Bain) is clearly created by someone who understands children, knowing how they behave and what they find funny. Therefore it’s unsurprising to discover that the illustrator, Jeanne Ashbé, not only comes from a big family herself but has five children of her own. She has authored / illustrated more than 60 books, as well as working for the press. She has lead reading workshops and her books have been translated into a dozen languages. This one is an absolute gem.