Potty Training Books

Potty Propaganda. . .at least that's what I call it. It's my phrase for anything that gets my child thinking in that direction. Because I know the motivation has to come from her, not me. So here are a few books that subtly influence my little girl to want to "be a big girl."

A Potty for Me! A Lift-the-Flap Instruction Manual by Karen Katz--my favorite of the potty books. Very clear and direct, with Katz' signature bright and bold artwork, along with the fun of lifting the flaps. The book follows a little girl as she tries her new potty again and again throughout the day, but is just "not ready yet." Then, finally--success. I like how realistic this is; it really does take children a while to feel comfortable enough to "go," and Katz depicts that very well. Kardelen has it memorized.



The Potty Book - For Girls by Alyssa Satin Capucilli--along the same lines as the Katz' book, but uses more words to get to the same point. The potty training process is not as clear in some places (Want to know a secret? / You can do it too! / Just march off to the potty / Like me and Teddy do). The kids won't notice, though, so it's still an effective form of potty propaganda. I reviewed just the girls' version of this book.




No More Diapers for Ducky! by Bernette Ford and Sam Williams--A story with excellent motivating power. Ducky comes to Pig's house to play, but his friend says he can't come out; he's "sitting on the potty." Ducky amuses himself with Pig's toys for a while, then realizes he doesn't like his "cold" and "wet" diaper, so off it comes. Then Ducky is knocking on the bathroom door because he wants a turn, too. By the end of the story, Piggy is ready to play with Ducky. But Ducky won't come: "I'm on the potty!" he says. This fictional tale infused with potty persuasion is one you won't tire of reading.


The Potty Train by David Hochman and Ruth Kennison--Zany and clever use of language; shows a giraffe, elephant, and little boy riding a "potty" train. Language is somewhat unclear, however. Then one day, when you're really ready, the potty train will blow its whistle. Chugga chugga poooo-poooooooo! Adults will know what this means, but children may not. Read it mostly for fun. I have a friend whose little boy likes it simply for the giraffe and elephant--if that's your thing, go for it. But realize it's not one of those books you'll choose for the great instructions, like the next one I'm about to share with you.

Time to Pee! by Mo Willems--If there's any author that can put a smile on my face, it's gotta be this guy. Not only did he score a hit with my daughter for Knuffle Bunny and Knuffle Bunny Too, he's also the author of the famous Pigeon series (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus, etc.). But I digress. Time to Pee! is basically a series of instructions given to kids who have "that funny feeling," and these instructions are given by mice holding up signs. Yup. Doesn't that just sound fun already?

It might not be as creative as his other books in my opinion, but if you want a bare-bones potty-training instruction manual, here it is. And my daughter loves it we get to the page reading: 1. . .2. . .3. . .PEE! It even comes with a progress chart inside the dust jacket, and stickers to go with it. Unless you get my library's copy, in which case my daughter has already used all the stickers. (Sorry, guys.)

Uh Oh! Gotta Go!: Potty Tales From Toddlers by Bob McGrath--This book covers it all. It's a series of illustrations picturing the potty training experiences of numerous children, from Mark picks a potty to Derrick empties his bladder before he rides in the car. If you'd like a book about a specific potty experience (such as using an adult toilet, or switching to diapers at night), it's probably in here. An enjoyable and easy read. You'll meet Sanju, who raps to "The Potty Beat," using his upside-down potty as a drum; and Jermaine, who is "the toilet champ!" Need I say more?


You Can Go to the Potty by William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N, and Christie Watts Kelly--This tutorial speaks directly to the child, yet is packed with information for parents. It begins with three pages of parental advice, and includes numerous sidebars "for the very curious" giving more specific information about anatomy. Fans of Dr. Sears and the attachment parenting philosophy will be at home with this book; you'll recognize baby wearing and co-sleeping.



Big Girls Use the Potty! from DK Publishing--rhyming text introduces Molly, who starts potty training by choosing underwear and a potty. Then she invites us to join her in giving her teddy a little potty lesson, which would be great to actually do with potty-training girls (why didn't I think of that before?). It's a little odd to pretend that the puddle we see on the floor is actually from her teddy, but it's an acceptable stretch. The square, softcover format is comfortable for little hands, and girls will love the potty chart and stickers inside (stars and teddies). Also available: Big Boys Use the Potty!

I've linked directly to these books on Amazon.com, as I'm part of their Associate Program and make a little bit if my readers buy the book after clicking directly from my blog. I haven't made anything yet--but I thought it would be a fun experiment.