OUR TOP PICK – Best Potty Training Books
We have found the best potty training books, and our top picks are Potty by Leslie Patricelli and Tiny Potty by Andrea Olson. They are opposites in many ways. Potty is a funny, cute story while Tiny Potty is an appealing instructional-type of book for littles that takes the mystery out of the pottying experience.
Read on for more information, or click the link below to read more reviews on Amazon.
- Age Range: 1 - 3 years Series: Leslie Patricelli board books
- Board book: 28 pages Publisher: Candlewick; Brdbk edition (September 14, 2010)
- Language: English ISBN-10: 0763644765
- ISBN-13: 978-0763644765 Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 0.6 x 7.1 inches
- Andrea Olson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 11 Pages - 06/05/2023 (Publication Date) - The Tiny World Company (Publisher)
Here are the Best Potty Training Books that we have included in our review
Best Potty Training Books
Potty training can be a trial for any family. It helps to have backup from professionals! Here are a few books kids love that may help you and your little one get motivated to get your potty training experience moving in the right direction.
Potty (By Leslie Patricelli)
- Age Range: 1 - 3 years Series: Leslie Patricelli board books
- Board book: 28 pages Publisher: Candlewick; Brdbk edition (September 14, 2010)
- Language: English ISBN-10: 0763644765
- ISBN-13: 978-0763644765 Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 0.6 x 7.1 inches
Potty (By Leslie Patricelli) Review
Patricelli writes hilarious books about Baby, whose thoughts we follow in this funny tale about using the potty. Kids love this silly story where the main character is contemplating using a potty and goes on an exploration to see how and what others do (ie: the dog and the cat).
There aren’t a lot of words but the story is both age-appropriate and attention-keeping for little ones. They’ll likely ask you to read it again and again. Some reviewers were disappointed that it isn’t a “how-to” for potty training kids, and one or two criticized the plotline and story structure, so don’t buy it thinking you’ll be doing a critical analysis on a story of a toddler going to the bathroom and you’ll likely be satisfied.
It’s a board book that’s a little larger than average, and it has nice, sturdy pages that will last quite a long time. There are no “private parts” shown (the book is intentionally genderless to appeal to anyone), and no drawings of pee or poop, either.
Pros
- cute
- sturdy book
- colorful
- genderless
Cons
- not as appealing for kids 3+
- few words
Super Mom Picks Verdict:
This book is great for either boys or girls, is cute, and a fun little story. It isn’t an instructive manual but is colorful, short, and just right for kids beginning potty training.
Tiny Potty (by Andrea Olson)
- Andrea Olson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 11 Pages - 06/05/2023 (Publication Date) - The Tiny World Company (Publisher)
Tiny Potty (By Andrea Olson) Review
This book is on the opposite end of the spectrum from “Potty”. This is an educational book by a practitioner of E.C. (elimination communication), and many families who use E.C. feel that children can use a potty at as young as 6 months. Whether you use E.C. to potty train your little or not, though, this is a really cute book!
The baby in this book is also genderless, and there is a rhyme to the words and phrases, though some reviewers say it’s difficult to figure out in the beginning because of the way the words are split up on the pages.
The only other comments from reviewers that were negative said they didn’t like that the book encourages children to empty their little potty into the big potty when they’ve finished using the bathroom. It’s understandable that some parents might worry about little ones making a mess. On the other hand, offering that freedom and responsibility to your young one may be appealing.
All in all, this is a cute, sweet teaching and learning book that is not only helpful for parents following the E.C. method, but for all potty-training families. It goes through the whole process from start to finish without oversharing and spoiling the “mystery” with anything too graphic or specific. Reviewers especially liked the fact that the baby in the story realizes he has to go to the potty in the middle of playtime, which is a very big step in the potty training process.
Pros
- adorable
- genderless baby
- teaches about understanding the body
- great for any family, especially for E.C.
Cons
- encourages emptying training potty
Super Mom Picks Verdict:
This book is perfect for families using the E.C. method, but it’s a great book for any family teaching a child about using the potty. The language is simple, the pictures are inviting, and kids will really enjoy the story as well as the information.
Where’s the Poop? (By Julie Markes)
- Hardcover Book
- Markes, Julie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 20 Pages - 03/01/2004 (Publication Date) - HarperFestival (Publisher)
Where’s the Poop? (By Julie Markes) Review
This one is a little gross, but it’s equally fascinating for kids who love animals! In this book, the animal parents look for the poop their darling little babies have made. It’s a lift the flap book, so kids love hunting through the flaps to find the poop!
The book also shares the idea that every creature, including humans, poops and has a place to poop. It gently shares the idea that the place for poop is in the toilet, which makes transitioning to using the toilet seem like a natural progression.
Warning, however… one reviewer said her little one loved the book so much that she started hiding her poop in random places and encouraging family members to find it! Oops! Be sure you clarify that with your little one if you buy this book. Another fun thing about this book is that there’s a YouTube video of plumbers reading it aloud. Definitely funny enough to check out!
This is a good book for kids who have waited just a bit longer to potty train and who have a little longer attention span – if you don’t find pictures of poop completely unappealing, that is.
Pros
- lift-the-flap book
- fun adventure type book for kids
- great for kids who love animals
- excellent reading for plumbers
Cons
- accurate poop drawings
- can encourage poop-and-go-seek
Super Mom Picks Verdict:
This is perfect for kids who are three or four. It’s not a board book, but it is a “lift-the-flap” which is incredibly appealing for young ones. The unappealing part is the realistic pictures of poop, including human poop, so be aware of that!
Potty Time! (By Alice Lehenand)
- Le Henand, Alice (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 14 Pages - 05/01/2018 (Publication Date) - Twirl (Publisher)
Potty Time! (By Alice Lehenand) Review
This book is by a French author and a French illustrator, and the pictures are so very adorable! This team has made several other books, and they are all precious. The thing that makes them stand out from other books is the movable slides that change the story illustrations on each page, moving the story along with them. Kids love these!
This book is just as exciting as Where’s the Poop – and possibly more so because it’s missing the all too real poop pictures. It’s a durable board book, too, so very little ones won’t be likely to tear it up the first time they read it.
Another thing that makes this one different is that all the children dealing with potty training issues are cute little animals. Each one struggles or succeeds in different ways, conveying the idea that sometimes potty training is tough, but in time, if you don’t give up, you will succeed. This one’s a keeper for sure!
Pros
- interactive sliding pictures
- cute toddler animals
- variety of good stories
- durable
Cons
- we didn’t find it sooner
Super Mom Picks Verdict:
This one is the best all-around book. The pull-tab board book pages are delightful for toddlers and preschoolers. The pictures and story are sweet and comforting. This is a great book for potty training!
Diapers Are Not Forever (By Elizabeth Verdick)
- Verdick, Elizabeth (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 08/10/2008 (Publication Date) - Free Spirit Publishing (Publisher)
Diapers Are Not Forever Review
A lot of families love this book! It’s informative, mentions both boys and girls, and talks about the routines of hand-washing and saying goodbye to diapers. It’s a very good book for parents because it has a few resources included to help you along the potty training path if you’re new to the experience.
It is a book that talks about both boy and girl experiences without going into great detail or showing pictures of details. There is a picture of a boy standing to pee, though, and it explains that some boys do that.
Reviewers with little girls sometimes said that was confusing, and some reviewers with little boys were not prepared for allowing standing just yet, which became an issue, so be prepared to read and explain or skip that page. Some reviewers said this might be best for 3 and 4-year-olds, so be aware that it might be a bit too informative and in-depth for some two-year-olds.
Another great thing about this one is that it is inclusive of several ethnicities and different members of the family.
Pros
- enforces good hygiene
- helps little ones transition from diapers
- gender, ethnicity, and family-inclusive
- promotes positive training methods
Cons
- info on both genders may be too much
- too informative for those very young
Super Mom Picks Verdict:
This book is great for either boys or girls, is cute, and a fun little story. It isn’t an instructive manual but is colorful, short, and just right for kids beginning potty training.
How about “Potty professional” by Melissa Sue Walker?