Book one · Ages 2–5
Bernie the Bath™:
Bernie the Bath™:
Sailor of the Seas
A bathtub with orange feet, a captain's hat and absolutely no intention of staying in the bathroom.
Written by Wendy Sim · Illustrated by Taniell Stuart
A bath-time adventure
What happens in the book
Bernie is shiny, white and thoroughly fed up.
“I'm tired of sitting here all on my own, with nothing but soap and cold, hard stone. I want to sail! I want to explore! I want to be something… so much more!”
One sunny morning a warm golden breeze blows in. Fairy dust sparkles and swirls, Bernie starts shaking right down to the ground — and up goes a great white sail.
Then it's “Climb aboard with me!” and away they go: across the bathroom floor, past a loofah reef where the washcloths wave like a marching band, through shampoo islands and a spinning, foamy whirlpool, all the way to a shore that sparkles bright and blue.
Clean Land. Where everybody washes their hands, their feet and their hair, plays until the sun goes down — and sails home under the stars to bed.
For the child
Why children love Bernie
- He turns into things. A bathtub becoming a boat is the best idea a three-year-old has heard all week.
- There's a job to do. Ducks to find on every single page — and they're not all easy.
- Lines to shout. “Oh me, oh my — I'm becoming a BOAT!” gets joined in with by book three.
- Bubbles, whirlpools and a marching band of washcloths. Enough going on to find something new every read.
For the grown-up
Why parents love Bernie
- It makes bath time easier. Bernie is on your side about washing, and he says it, not you.
- It reads beautifully aloud. Four-line rhymes with a proper beat — pleasant at the twentieth reading.
- It ends calmly. Stars, a sail home, and “sleep tight, my little sailor crew.” It's built to finish the day.
- The rules page earns its keep. Kindness, hand-washing, teeth, listening — as rhymes, not a lecture.
At the back of the book
Bernie's Bubbly Buddies Rules
Seven small rules in rhyme. We've also made them into a free printable poster for the bathroom wall.
- Be kindBe kind to everyone you see, a kind kid is the best thing to be!
- Scrub-a-dub-dubEvery day, have a scrub-a-dub-dub — Bernie loves a soapy tub!
- Wash your handsDirty hands can make you sick, so be sure to wash them quick!
- Brush your teethBrush your teeth both night and day, keeping pesky germs away.
- ListenListen to the grown-ups' voices, they'll help you make good choices.
- Share your smileShare your smile with everyone you see — it's your best gift, and it's totally free!
- Bernie's wayLove, laugh, splash, and play — that's Bernie's Bubbly Buddies Way!
Take Bernie home
Order your copy
Order direct and Bernie sets sail from New Zealand, posted by Wendy herself. Ages 2–5, 32 pages, hardback.
Secure checkout by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. (An Amazon listing is on its way too.)
Book details
Goes well with
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Free activity sheets
Seven downloads: the star chart, bingo, a maze, counting and more.
Get them freeComing soon
Questions grown-ups ask
What age is it really for?
Two to five, read aloud. Two- and three-year-olds come for the sounds, the ducks and
the transformation; four- and five-year-olds follow the whole journey and start reciting
the rhymes back at you.
Is anything in it frightening?
No. The whirlpool is the most dramatic moment and Bernie sails straight past it.
The book ends with stars, bed and “sleep tight.”
Will there be more Bernie books?
Yes. Book two, Wheels on the Bath, is in production — Bernie grows wheels and
headlights and drives out of the bathroom. Join the crew to hear when it lands.
It's free to join
Join Bernie's Adventure Crew
Free printables the moment they land, new adventure news, and the odd bubbly surprise. Just the good bits, and never very often.
Sailor of the SeasAges 2–5 ·