ALA Booklist (Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Sloppy the tree dragon is covered in mud, but he does not want to take a bath. He would like his friend Dewdrop the fairy to give him a hug, but she says he is too dirty. She tries to entice Sloppy with a basket of sponges and shampoo, but Sloppy is nervous about going into the pond. He fears that sharks or crocodiles will nibble his toes. As Dewdrop and Sloppy negotiate, a mother duck arrives with her ducklings. The little ones are afraid to jump in. Their anxious quacks are humorously translated as "Sharks! Crocodiles!" Sloppy bravely volunteers to test the water to show the ducklings they will be OK. In a clever visual spread, the pond is shown in cutaway side view, including a plug on a chain, prompting children to make a direct connection to their own bathtubs. The cheerful tale concludes with Sloppy feeling wonderfully clean, but since he loves mud, he is sure to need another bath soon!

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Sloppy, a muddy tree dragon, wants a hug but resists fairy child Dewdrop's suggestion that beforehand he should take his "first ever bath." Sloppy's hesitant plunge into the pond encourages five scared ducklings, and, unsurprisingly, they all enjoy the water. Crisp, clean illustrations and a cheery tone express the value of cleanliness without didactic overtones, thus conveying a satisfying tale for bathers everywhere.

Kirkus Reviews

Sloppy the tree dragon finally earned his heart's desire in Sloppy Wants a Hug (2017), but now Dewdrop the fairy has again turned standoffish.Her reluctance to bestow further hugs is understandable, as Sloppy's vigorous mucking about in puddles has left him a mess. Her suggestion that he take a bath is initially greeted with horror, as he's never had one, and anyway there might be sharks or crocodiles in the pond. At Dewdrop's coaxing, though, and also when he sees a trio of ducklings expressing similar reservations to their mama—"Quack (Sharks!) Quack! (Crocodiles!)"—he does finally screw his courage to the sticking place. Although it's about a dragon, the book offers much that will be familiar to grotty toddlers: The ducklings look like rubber duckies, and Julian provides the pond with both a drain plug and a floating basket of sponges, brushes, and bottles of bubbly soap. Sloppy himself resembles a flop-eared plush toy with, like his diminutive, light skinned friend, undersized wings. He comes out of the water feeling both brave and "AMAZING!" He gets his hug too, though (you'd think she'd have learned her lesson from last time) in return he lays "a great big gooey lick" on Dewdrop that leaves her hair a slimy tangle and sends her off for a bath of her own.Just the ticket for allaying incipient ablutophobia. (Picture book. 2-4)

School Library Journal (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS Another heartwarming installment from the author/illustrator. Sloppy the tree dragon is back and this time, he is jumping in puddles and getting completely muddy. His friend Dewdrop convinces him that he needs a bath, but only after he decides to set a good example for a group of reluctant ducklings by jumping into the crisp, clear water. To his amazement, Sloppy loves his bath and is finally clean enough to thank his friend for her encouragement with a big hug, and a bit of mischief! The story is fun, humorous, and one that many children will relate tonot wanting to take a bath. The illustrations are very appealing, with the happily cartoonish characters infused with rich, warm colors that are full of depth and dimension. Sloppy's caring and helpful nature is contagious, and the innocence of this picture book for young children is refreshing. VERDICT Fans of Sloppy and newcomers alike will be delighted with this latest installment. Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE