Our little girl was introduced to "the tub people" at the age of 2 1/2 while in pre-school. The story suggests to the child that that large animate objects can slip unnoticed down drains and that families can be split up without warning. After having this book read to her, our child refused to allow any of her toys, or the soap, or the shampoo, to remain anywhere near the bathtub when she was bathing. She was afraid that they would go down the drain like the toy child in the story! Further, she became afraid to go swimming, as she thought that she herself might go down the pool drain. Luckily, we have been able to work through her fears, partly by keeping her away from this book. Needless to say, I would not recomend this book to any parent of a child under 3 1/2.