Smelly Bill

by Daniel Postgate

Bill the dog loved smelly things, like muddy ponds and rubbish bins, but will the arrival of Great Aunt Bleach put an end to his smelly ways or will Bill live to stink another day?

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Dogs, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

Daniel Raymond Postgate was an English scriptwriter, author and illustrator. Some of his books include Smelly Bill, Engelbert Sneem and His Dream Vacuum Machine, and Big Mum Plum. In 2014, he collaborated with Oliver Postgate's business partner and other founder of Smallfilms, Peter Firmin on the production of a new series of The Clangers, with Daniel Postgate writing many of the episodes and voicing the Iron Chicken, The Soup Dragon, and her son, Baby Soup Dragon. He won a Bafta for his episode 'I am the Eggbot'.
After the death of his father in 2008, Postgate inherited Smallfilms, the company set up by Postgate and Firmin. Smallfilms is a company that has made Pingwings, Pogles' Wood, Noggin the Nog, Ivor the Engine, Clangers and Bagpuss, and was shown on the BBC between 1950s and 1980s, and on ITV from 1959 to the present day.

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this and rhyming along with all the words. Very humorous.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rhyme scheme doesn't really work for me, like on the first page where "things" is meant to rhyme with "bins"?! Does that maybe work in British English? Because in American English, it feels awkward. Despite some of the poor rhymes and rhythms, the pictures are fabulous. In fact, they make the book rather great. I love the one where the great aunt is swinging down to the trash, bloomers showing, and the one where she is holding her filthy arms out for a hug. Clever illustrations, I just wish the text could have matched them.

[Maria Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smelly Bill is the family dog that has the most unpleasant stench. His owners do everything they can to give their smelly dog a bath, but nothing seems to work as he always finds away to escape bath time. It isn't until his family leaves and Great Aunt Bleach comes to the home to watch over it while the family goes off to the beach. As you can tell from her name, Great Aunt Bleach is a very clean woman that wants to make sure that everything is as clean as can be. As she cleaned the whole house she noticed the unpleasant smell coming from Smelly Bill. She tries to being him in for a bath, but Bill and his sneaky ways manages to find a way out of her grasp. After tricking him with a piece of stake, Great Aunt Bleach finally reels him in for a bath. However, she got too carried away when mixing the soaps together in the bath that Bill ends up escaping once again. He, however, was not fast enough since Great Aunt Bleach was able to catch him once again and finally give the dog a much needed bath. Bill's family comes home and is surprised to see that Bill is no longer Smelly Bill.
This is a fun book to read with wonderful watercolor pictures. I especially liked the name that the author chose for the aunt who is responsible for giving Smelly Bill a bath. The name is creative and funny. I also liked how some of the words rhymed with each other throughout the story. It makes it fun to read as well as entertaining. The story itself is funny and somewhat relatable to those who own dogs that hate bath time. Most dogs, especially my dog, hates baths! This would be a fun book to read to younger children for fun.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that children will reach for based on the bold colors and funny looking dog on the cover. The attraction for me, besides the title, is that the dog reminds me of Arrow, from Harry Nilsson's THE POINT.
After having this read to them the first time, children will return to it often for the great rhythm and funny story. Bill is an anti-hero. You can't help but root for him.
As they learn to sound out words and read for themselves this will also appeal to many children.
It could be used as a lesson in persistence, but I would just call it a FUN book that doesn't get boring when read over and over.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this by chance at the library, and I couldn't resist getting it since it had to do with dogs and had my husband's name in the title.
Smelly Bill doesn't like having a bath and goes above and beyond to avoid it. Little does he know that a tenacious aunt is coming and she won't stop until he gets a bath.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bill is smelly because he likes to get into things and he hates baths.

Auntie Bleach thinks she can resolve this issue. In the end, Bill isn't smelly anymore, but Auntie is.

Cute, but not a book I'd want to read over and over.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a battle between bleach and dirt in this clever picture book. My four year old could not stop giggling when reading this book, even from the very first page. I'm not a huge fan of the illustrations, but overall, this is a fun storytime read.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit odd

[Mini Reviewers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had me laughing all the way through!

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great picture book for doing a smelly story time!

[Heather]

I have been a patron of the library in my hometown from the time I was born. My son spent many hours there searching for fun books to take home and now each Thursday I take my nephew and niece to the wonderful 100 year old building to check out books of their own.
Since I am usually the one who reads the books once we get back to the house I like to search through the shelves in the kid's section and check out some children's books that I might enjoy in the process.
Last week I picked up a book with a cartoon rendition of a very stinky dog on the cover. I knew he smelled horrible by the wavy lines radiating from his scruffy fur and the flies that flew dizzily around his head. The name of the book is Smelly Bill by Daniel Postgate. I'd say I've read more than my fair share of kid's books in my years of life and I would put this funny book in my Top 5.
Bill loves to be smelly. He rolls in the dirt and flops in puddles. When his family calls him for bath time he heads for the nearest hiding spot. When his family goes on vacation and leaves him home with Great Aunt Bleach Smelly Bill may have met his match.
The book is filled with hilarious illustrations of the battle between Smelly Bill and Aunt Bleach and the chaos that ensues.
My favorite line in the book is, "Come on doggie-woo, it's bathie-wathie time for you."
Will Great Aunt Bleach win the battle over the smell wafting from Bill or will he get to stay the happy, stinky dog he is? Will his family come home to a putrid mess of hair and dirt or will Bill be the picture of cleanliness? Check out this book for the answer to all of these questions and more.

[Carolyn]

Oh yuk, Smelly Bill is one mucky dog. He loves to roll in mud and rubbish. He steadfastly resists his family’s attempts to de-reek him! When Great Aunt Bleach arrives, she brings her disinfectant and scrub brush. Before long the house is sparkling from top to uh-oh – what is that smell? After a merry chase, Bill endures his bathie-wathie, and makes a mess of poor Great Aunt Bleach.

With wonderful rhyming text and fun illustrations, Smelly Bill will be enjoyed by children of all ages.

Included in our list of Phonemic Awareness resources.

[Mandy Scheuren]

Smelly Bill has a smelly problem, he loves to roll in garbage and avoid the family’s attempt to give him a bath. Bill will do anything to avoid water and any form of getting clean. The family despair until they go on an outing, leaving Bill with someone who has HIM despairing before long, Great Aunt Bleach. The battle is on between the clean loving Bleach and the very smelly Bill! This outrageous, far-fetched tale will keep you from putting the book down! Postage does an excellent job keeping the text rhyming and the action moving, especially in the “great bath war”!

[Nolan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. This book is about a dog named Bill. Bill loved playing in smelly things. Bill's family thought he smelt so bad but could never catch him to take a bath. When Bill's family left for the beach, Great Aunt Bleach comest to take care of Bill. Great Aunt Bleach is determined to give Bill a bath but Bill has different plans.

B. You might become what you were trying to change.

C. There is a lot of good vocabulary in this book. I thing that this book could be used to teach new vocabulary words.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared to laugh out loud at this stinky pooch! Smelly Bill is smart, witty, and tons of fun.

The writing is fast paced and illustrative, while the pictures are unique and fun. There are just the right number of words on each page to make reading it enjoyable and interesting.

Author and illustrator, Daniel Postgate, really hit a home run on this one! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with a young child.
Books for Kids

[Ash]

Truly a phenomenal book. The artistry only seems to add to the riveting story that is Smelly Bill. Great Aunt Bleach, such a complex character. Obviously suffering greatly from OCD but to her family nothing but a laughing stock. Her family regularly leaves her to her own devices or to do their dirty work and groom their dog. Smelly Bill himself seems to be the only one who cares about her running around the house making sure there are places to clean. This book truly is a masterpiece.

[Halee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Level: 3.6
Interest Level: K-3

A cute book about a stinky little dog whose family can't seem to get clean until Great Aunt Bleach comes along and gives Bill a cleaning that is much needed! Filled with humor and pop off the page illustrations, sure to be a hit among students who can relate to their own stinky pets!

[Tuckleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't get more classic of a kids story than this. Full of rhymes, silliness and dirt!

I may be biased as this was the first book my son ever responded to. I have yet to return it to the library.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was just a cute kids book--funny illustrations and the rhyme was well done. "Aunt Bleach" is dog-sitting and tries to get the dog to take a bath. Anyway, just a cute little picture book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literacy skills:

Phonological sensitivity-this book is full of rhymes that kids will find funny "Because of this he had a bleak and really quite unpleasant reek". These rhymes will build phonological sensitivity and the funny pictures will encourage print motivation.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated by the author. With great rhyming and a surprising twist at the end, this is sure to be a hit at storytime. The illustrations are great too as the reader can really see just HOW stinky Bill must be. I really liked it quite a bit.

[Sandi Roe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't care for the beginning when Peach's owner was mean to Bill and told him her dog Peach was too good for him. She later finds that pedigree does not equal worth. Bill proves he has more heart than any pure breed at the dog show. The kids at story time seemed to like this book.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun rhyming story about a smelly dog.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and kids love the humour.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aunt Bleach visits to take care of Smelly Bill in this cute rhyming book.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a riot! The verse narrative is fantastic. I come away wanting more Smelly Bill-- maybe I want to get inside Smelly Bill's head, but I expect it would stink.

[Boni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really fun book, but a few too many poor rhymes for my taste (maybe because the author is British? Not sure...)

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute concept of smelly dog meets cleanfreak aunt bleach. Fun readaloud...with ending that pleases the audience.

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming story of a smelly dog that tries to avoid getting a bath at all cost. Good to use when building word families and working on phonemic awareness.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Smelly Bill. This dirty old dog sure gives Aunt Bleach a run for her money. Super cute. The kids LOVE this book.