Potty training is a time for transition for children and parents. Having a few potty-training books around the house can create a conversation with your small child about using the toilet. You can also use the books to keep your child engaged while on the toilet. Focus on books that are simple, have lots of pictures and don't take the occasional accident too seriously.
"Everyone Poops"
Taro Gomi's illustrations are colorful, bright and reasonably discreet. They focus on the fact that all animals eat and need to eliminate waste. The simple text uses a large font, making it easy to read to your child or for your child to pick out the occasional word.
"The Potty Book"
An oversize box provides a surprise for Hannah (for girls) or Henry (for boys) in Alyssa Satin Capucilli's book. The book artfully conveys the child's feeling of ambivalence about the potty, the child's willingness to try, the parents' calmly managing an accident and eventual complete success. The text is smaller in this book, but the pictures are well drawn. The child's behavior is a recognizable model of how many children feel about this type of transition, so the book is particularly useful for parents who want to talk with their kids using Hannah (or Henry) as an example.
"The Princess and the Potty"
Wendy Cheyette Lewison's book inserts some humor into the process. Here, a princess simply won't use the potty, no matter what incentive is offered. She finally agrees to go when pretty undies are offered (the idea of big-kid undies is often a hit, as Lewison conveys here). Rick Brown's illustrations are well drawn and help the convey the humor of some of the courtier's solutions.
"Once Upon a Potty"
Alona Frankel's illustrations provide a clear guide for kids to understand what using the potty is all about. This simple book is available in both girls' and boys' versions. It contains very little text, which makes it ideal for independent kids who want their own book that doesn't require reading.
"Potty"
This beautifully illustrated book by Milo Freeman is also quite funny. After a potty appears in the jungle, the animals work to figure out what it's for until just the right bottom fits. You and your child can laugh as the animals all give the potty a try, inserting some humor and dissipating any tension that the potty presents.
"Lift the Lid, Use the Potty"
This lift-the-flap book is terrific for younger kids who get a kick out of peering underneath the cardboard flaps. The story revolves around a bunny's learning to use the potty. Annie Ingles's simple, easy-to-follow prose provides a clear process for children to understand. This book is particularly useful for children who like clear, simple directions and are comfortable with creating a routine.
