This is an adorable book about a little boy getting gross, muddy, and disgusting because the he loves the mess (and the mess loves him). It ends, thankfully, with the kids taking a bath because he knows his mother doesn't love the mess even if he does, and since he loves his mother he wants her to be happy. I think it's a nice lesson in having fun your way and in selflessness without being overhanded.

In fact, provided that parents don't shove "see he loves his mother so he took a bath" down their own children's throat while reading this with/to them, I think many children will take that message away on their own.