Boats could pull up and the little nautical people could disembark and enjoy the town. Since Tubtown could stick anywhere on the bathtub wall, the bath water level could come right up to the dock. As a child, I stayed in the bathtub playing with my Tubtown until the water was cold and my skin was all shriveled up. Most of what I put into the Dory books comes from my children, but Tubtown was an inspiration from my own life. (But whenever an overly excited parent about my age would approach me at a bookstore event bursting to tell me something, I always knew what they were going to say.)ĭory’s preoccupation with the unobtainable toy drives one of the story's plot lines.Īfter seeing an ad for the toy in an old magazine, Dory is certain that Tubtown is "the greatest toy in the universe." Dory relentlessly begs for the toy, but her mother tells her the company doesn't make it anymore. Most readers don't know that Tubtown is a real toy from the 1980’s. If there was only one Tubtown left in his attic, it should certainly go to someone else, at least someone a little younger than me.įor those of you who have not read Dory 5, Tubtown plays an important role in the book. The idea of owning Tubtown was strangely overwhelming, I felt unworthy of this gift. "If she would like a TUBTOWN I bet I still have one in the attic."Ī quick google search confirmed that, yes, in fact, Peter Pook was the inventor of Tubtown, the beloved bath toy from my childhood a toy long discontinued and impossible to obtain.Īt first, I rejoiced. "I would personally love to thank Abby for making me a very happy toy designer," the email continued. Is this person claiming to have invented Tubtown? "One of my early hits," he wrote in his email, "was Tubtown."Īt first, I didn't believe what I was reading. Grandfather of seven, Pook had come across the 5th Dory book, “Tiny Tough” through a friend. It was from a man named Peter Pook, a retired, (though endlessly tinkering) toy inventor living in Ontario, Canada. "I have a really special request that I hope you can help me with," the email began.
One day, not too long ago, my local bookstore forwarded me a mysterious email.
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