Potty

January 1, 2011

PreS-Both books feature the same smiling, bald baby. In the first book, the toddler has to "go potty." Intimidated, the child investigates the cat's and dog's solutions. Several sound effects and wiggles later, the youngster gives the potty a shot with eventual success and accolades. In Tubby, muddy footprints and an obviously dirty child let readers know that it is bath time. The excited youngster has a grand time playing with bubbles and toys. These appealing books feature simple text, bright acrylic illustrations, and everyday situations that are certain to engage the very young.-Laura Butler, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2010
Possibly the most freighted transition of toddlerhood is the passage from diapers to potty, and Patricelli (Binky, 2005, etc.) tackles it here with her customary light touch. The diaper-clad tot informs readers, "I have to go potty!" After declaring that he or she does not want to "go in my diaper," scientific observation takes over. What do doggy and kitty do? "Oh." Diaper comes off, bottom goes on potty—and the waiting stretches over several panels and page turns. Finally: "Tinkle, tinkle, toot / I did it!" Less an instruction manual than a cheerful declaration of independence, this refreshing treatment allows toddlers to imagine a successful future. Parents will know it's not that easy, but they will enjoy the humor that accompanies this heaping helping of positive reinforcement. Tubby (ISBN: 978-0-7636-4567-0) celebrates bathtime with equal flair. (Board book. 1-3)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2011
Tubby finds Patricelli's impish, oval-headed, gender-neutral toddler having a grand old time in the bathtub. In Potty, the tiny tot first recognizes the urge to go, then realizes a diaper isn't the only place to take care of business. There's an abundance of sly humor in Patricelli's comfortably rounded, bold-hued acrylic illustrations and brief, child-friendly texts.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2011
The impish, oval-headed, gender-neutral toddler with the single squiggly curl, rosy-apple cheeks, and ear-to-ear grin (Baby Happy, Baby Sad) continues to explore the world -- and expand his or her capabilities -- in these two board books. Tubby finds the toddler first stripping off a diaper ('I'm naked! Wheeee!') then having a grand old time in the bathtub, the impersonations of Santa (bubble beard) and a bunny rabbit (bubble ears, sticking straight up) are crack-ups. There's a minor bump in the road when rinse-water gets in the eyes ('Owww!'), but with a clean towel and a smile from Mommy, everything's 'All better.' In Potty, the stakes are higher: the tiny tot first recognizes the urge to go, then realizes a diaper isn't the only place to take care of business. After a couple of false starts, the kid squats on a little plastic potty; eventually, with a 'Tinkle, tinkle, toot, ' the efforts are rewarded. As usual, there's an abundance of sly humor in Patricelli's comfortably rounded, bold-hued acrylic illustrations -- she outdoes herself with a multi-panel spread including the protagonist sitting, naked, on the tiny toilet perusing a potty-training manual. Add to this the books' brief, child-friendly texts, and Tubby and Potty join the elite club of board books that toddlers will want to hear over and over again -- and parents won't mind. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ [review covers these titles: Potty and Tubby]

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)