Nina Schuyler | The Children’s Book Review | April 23, 2014
Potty Talk: And Yes, Princesses Go Potty, Too
And then there’s potty training. It’s a world unto itself, with special videos, portable potties, stickers, colorful underwear, and, of course, books. But the pay-off is huge: a diaper-free existence. We’re big readers in our household, so why not read about it, too?
By Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Amy Cartwright
For the pirate-loving kid, there’s Pirate Potty by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Amy Cartwright. The book reveals that pirates, indeed, use the potty. Fair warning: you might end up having to decorate your potty like the pirate’s potty, which is “black as night, with three Jolly Roger flags, two cannonballs, and one big X marks the spot!” The book comes with a paper pirate hat and small stickers, which you can use as rewards.
Ages 2-4 | Publisher: Cartwheel Books | Jan. 1, 2010 | ISBN 978-0545172950
By Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Amy Cartwright
The companion book to Pirate Potty, Princess Potty, by the same author and illustrator, comes with a tiara and “jewel” stickers. And yes, princesses go potty, too. Her potty is “pink, with sparkles and glitters, and diamonds, and hearts, and stars, and smells like rose petals…for now.”
Ages 2-4 | Publisher: Cartwheel Books | Jan. 1, 2010 | ISBN 978-0545172967
Pottytime for Chickies by Janee Trasler dives into all the things a chick shouldn’t do when it heads into the bathroom. The bright yellow chicks jump into the toilet water–“Oh no, Chickies. Pat. Pat. Pat. Pottytime is NOT for that.” They rip up the toilet paper, leap off the toilet into a stack of towels. But by the end, they get it right.
Ages 2-4 | Publisher: HarperFestival | Jan. 28, 2014 | ISBN 978-0062274694
By Hope Vestergaard, Illustrated by Valeria Petrone
If you’ve made it through the first hurdle of potty training, now comes potty etiquette. (You thought you were done?) Every animal in Potty Animals by Hope Vestergaard and illustrated by Valeria Petrone forgets to do something. The animals attend Sycamore Preschool and share a bathroom, and, boy, can it get messy. Wilbur forgets to wash his hands, and Wilma wants to keep playing, and sometimes she’s too late. Arnold misses the toilet bowl, Benji barges in. So here’s a way to remind your kid what do (and you’ve probably helped your preschool teacher, too).
Ages 4 and up | Publisher: Sterling | Mar. 2, 2010, 2010 | ISBN 978-1402759963