I Don't Want to Wash My Hands

My Little Princess

by Tony Ross

The seventh title in the popular series about the demanding Little Princess. The Little Princess wants to know why everyone is telling her to wash her hands ALL the time...She washed them after playing outside, after playing with the dog, after going on her potty and after sneezing...The maid tells the Little Princess all about the germs and the nasties who live in dirt, in sneezes and on animals, and who can make you sick. So, when the maid offers the Little Princess a piece of cake, the Little Princess says, ''Have you washed YOUR hands?'' - from Amazon

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Tony Ross is a British illustrator and author of children's picture books. He was a student at the Liverpool School of Art and Design. Ross has had quite a few occupations, such as cartoonist, graphic designer, art director at an advertising agency, senior lecturer in art and head of the illustration course at Manchester Polytechnic.
Ross won the 1986 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, picture books category, for Ich komm dich holen!, (I'm coming to get you! - Andersen, 1984. He was runner-up for the 1990 Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject, for Dr. Xargle's book of Earth Tiggers.

Meet the illustrator
What is your favourite animal?
A cat
What is your favourite boy’s name?
Bill
What is your favourite girl’s name?
Roxanne
What is your favourite food?
Lobster
What is your favourite music?
Irish
What is your favourite hobby?
Sailing

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Waterstones YouTube channel just uploaded a video of Tony Ross reading this story. Audio, with the pictures from the story displayed on screen. A nice story, that is of course very fitting right now. I enjoyed it, and it made me laugh. I think this would be a great story to read at any time, (not just during a pandemic!) to explain easily to a child why we wash our hands, and why it must be done frequently.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book about why we have to wash our hands. (Before COVID I thought I was legit OCD about hand washing and other hygiene routines, but it turns out I’m not even close...there’s always another level...stay safe everyone!)

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book that explains why we need to wash our hands so often. We have to watch out for the germs and other icky things. Cute illustrations capture the little princess and the rest of the characters.
Great one to pull up during this pandemic.

[Ophilia Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alla barnböcker verkar handla om renlighet och virus (sjukdomar). Jag förstår varför men vore kul att se lite mer i utbudet.

Denna tyckte jag dock var charmig. Bra genomgång varför man tvättar händerna.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute! It needs to go on the read aloud list for every PK-2 classroom who is unfortunately returning to face-to-face instruction soon. I changed my mind. Anyone who is lucky enough to have a connection with young children should read this book to them.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

I DON'T WANT TO WASH MY HANDS is a picture book about the need for frequent hand washing. The little princess is always being told to wash her hands, and she feels like she's already done it so many times. When she asks the maid why, the maid tells her about the "germs and nasties" that can get on your food and make you sick. She says they are worse than crocodiles but so small you cannot see them.

What I loved: There are plenty of colorful illustrations in this book, as well as good depictions of the times when you need to wash your hands, such as after playing outside, after playing with the dog, and after using the bathroom.

What left me wanting more: This book would not be a great choice for children who are sensitive or already good about washing their hands. The description and illustrations of "germs and nasties" could be a little scary and could inspire too much hand washing.

Final verdict: Overall, this book about hand washing would be useful for reluctant hand-washers who do not scare easily.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jared White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, until COVID I didn't worry too much about germs. I do always wash my hands after using the bathroom (and this year wash hands and use hand sanitizer very frequently) but if I'm digging around in the garden, out in the woods, or give a dog a pat, I won't necessarily wash my hands before putting a snack in my mouth (but do wash hands before cooking and meals). I guess overall I worry about germs from human dominated settings as opposed to natural settings (yes, I am aware that COVID likely came from a nature and another species, but I don't generally lick/eat wild animals).

In other words, this is a good book to make little ones aware of the need to wash their hands and it is particularly fitting for this year, but I think a few germs here and there from certain sources are not necessarily a bad thing (and of the gardening variety can actually be a good thing, according to some studies).

[Lisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book re-release could not come at a better time. With it's cute illustrations and *very* relatable main character, it is perfect for reiterating the importance of why we must wash our hands after most activities. It is a wonderful way to open up the discussion on germs and how often we must wash our hands.

This is the kind of book I will keep in my first grade bookshelf to go along with my first week of school activities. With six year olds you absolutely have to immediately start talking about germs and how to properly sneeze/cough! Thanks for the resource Mr. Ross!

@mscruzintexas

[Yessenia De]

1. N/A
2. Prek-1
3. This book is about a little girl who does not want to wash her hands, but then after learning about how many germs we can have in our hands. She decides she will wash her hands, because she does not want to get sick.
4. This is a good book to read, because then this will teach kids that they need to wash their hands. They learn about the consequences of not washing your hands.
5. This can be read in class and then teachers can go into a lesson about the proper way to wash your hands.

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a silly book meant to teach children about germs. The little Princess in the book loves to play outside and get dirty. She loves to play with the dog, and she doesn't understand why everyone in the house is constantly telling her to wash her hands! The maid teaches her about GERMS, and then the little princess understands why it's so important! I could use this book year-round in the classroom but especially during the beginning of the school year to make sure all kids grasp it.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is a fun story about a little princess who does not want to wash her hands. All of the family members and staff of household keeps telling her she must wash her hands for many reasons. It is a great story to use for a read-aloud. Illustrations are hilarious! Kids will enjoy this one. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.

[Jessica Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book because it expresses the importance of washing your hands. I think that this would be a good book to have in the classroom at all times, so the children can go back and see that even if you get dirty or use the restroom, it is critical that you was your hands.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timely book about washing your hands after you play with the dog, use the potty, before eating, etc. Has an easy to understand explanation about germs being on your hands until you wash them for the little ones. Love the text and the funny bright illustrations.

[Emily Grindstaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute book to read especially around cold and flu season. Many kids have an understanding of germs, but never want to wash their hands. This helps reinforce that idea. This would be a great book for kids ages 5 or 6.

[Lauren Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl who loves to get her hands dirty but doesn't like to wash them afterward. Many people ask her to wash her hands and her response every time is "why". She refuses to wash them until after she is done playing.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Timing. I LOVE IT!!! Great message and adorable illustrations!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could children become afraid of the germ monsters they cannot see?

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timely, but not captivating.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book. Perfect for 2 and up.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty apropos message to date!!

Birthday Book treasure Trove Summer Reading Afternoon. Thanks to my sister and Barbie for such lovelies and Summer Sara time to sit and read!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for KS1 PSHE and teaching children the Importance of hygiene and washing your hands.

[Caitlin]

A cute, funny book about why we've got to wash our hands, this is definitely suitable for the very youngest among us.

[Olivia Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice for beginners I loved it when I was young

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny and perfectly good for a story time about washing your hands.

[Lourdes Heuer]

Digital copy accessed through Edelweiss

[Rose Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially chose this particular Little Princess book because it seems current to Covid in that adults are having to get children to wash their hands more often than they may have previously done and so I thought it would potentially be a good book to read during these times.
It's a good way to introduce children as to why it is they need to wash their hands, and I like that the examples given are very relatable to most children.
It's similar to other Little Princess books I've read, such as 'I want my Potty' in that the structure is very repetitive which whilst seeming less interesting, I've found works well with younger children as they find it easier to join in.
However, the princess is essentially scared into washing her hands after she's told about germs which whilst important, I believe it's necessary to reassure children that once they've washed their hands once, they then no longer need to be worried or scared about germs.