Scrub-a-Dub, Mia!

8-10 min read
18 pages
4+

Mia the little monkey is about to eat her banana with sandy paws when Paco the parrot calls out to stop her. With a silly song and a lot of bubbles, Paco shows her how to wash her paws and why it matters before she eats.

Deep in the jungle, where vines hung low and flowers bloomed, lived a little monkey named Mia. She loved to play in the sand by the river—building towers, digging holes, and finding shells.

After a long, happy morning of play, Mia’s tummy rumbled. She pulled a ripe yellow banana from her bag. She opened wide for a big bite… when a voice called down from a branch above.

“Whoa there, little rascal!” squawked Paco the parrot, bright as a rainbow. “What are you doing?”

Mia blinked up at him. “I’m eating my banana,” she said. “Why are you squawking so loud?” Paco spread his wings wide and turned his head this way and that.

“Look at your paws!” said Paco, pointing with his wing. “They’re covered in sand, and sand is full of germs!” “Ger… who?” asked Mia.

Paco puffed up and looked very important. “Germs are teeny, tiny things—too tiny to see! If they get in your tummy, your tummy can hurt.”

Mia laughed and looked at her paws. “But I don’t see anybody!” Paco gave a sly wink. “You can’t see the wind, either. But look—it’s wiggling the leaves!”

Mia giggled and tucked the banana back in her bag. “Okay, okay. So what do I do now?” Paco hopped closer, folded his wings, and puffed out his chest—just like a teacher.

“Before we eat, we wash our paws,” said Paco. He pointed to a bar of soap on a flat rock by the river. “First, get them wet. Then soap them up and scrub while you sing my song three times: ‘Ha-ha-ha, banana mine! Scrub-a-dub, I’m feeling fine!’”

Mia threw back her head and sang: “Ha-ha-ha, banana mine! Scrub-a-dub, I’m feeling fine!” Once, twice, three times, with a wiggle each time!

“That’s it!” said Paco with a nod. “Now rub between your fingers and don’t forget the tips. Rinse off the soap, then wipe your paws on a big leaf. Then—enjoy your banana!” Mia copied every move in the air.

Then Paco grew serious and raised one wing, like a teacher. “Remember this, Mia: before a snack, after sand or mud, and after you go potty—scrub-a-dub-dub!”

“Do that,” said Paco, “and those germs won’t get you!” Mia nodded hard.

Then Mia scampered down to the river. She wet her paws and scrubbed with soap, singing her song. Soon she had a big, foamy mustache! She laughed and laughed.

“Look, Paco! I’m a bubble tiger! Rrrrr!” Mia held up her soapy paws. Paco laughed. “Even tigers have to wash their paws!”

With her paws clean at last, Mia sat under a palm tree. She pulled out her banana and took a big, happy bite.

“Mmm, yummy!” said Mia with a big smile. “My paws are clean, and the germs didn’t get a single bite!” Paco puffed out his chest. “See? Clean paws, happy tummy!” From that day on, Mia always washed her paws before she ate. She even showed her friends how.

Mia and Paco sang their song one more time, just for fun. “Ha-ha-ha, banana mine! Scrub-a-dub, I’m feeling fine!” Now it’s your turn—wash up and sing along!

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