Children's Literature
- Phyllis Kennemer
Beginning with "A is for Accident" and continuing through "Z is for Zipper" an alphabetical list of toddlers demonstrate various aspects of learning to use the potty chair. Each page features a framed illustration on top and an alliterative caption below. The "Accident" page shows Adam wearing pants with a wet spot looking askance at a yellow puddle on the floor: "It's all right, Adam." Danny is shown on the D page surrounded by unused diapers as he holds one aloft "delighted to be dry." Children and a couple of parents are shown sitting on or standing in front of potties in many of the illustrations. Some of the children's potty chairs are placed not only in bathrooms, but in bedrooms and outside on the grass. The importance of washing hands is emphasized in a couple of entries. Parents entering the potty training phase of childhood may appreciate the descriptive captions and explicit illustrations. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.
School Library Journal
PreS—This book gently encourages, commends, and celebrates 26 youngsters who are in the process of being toilet trained. It begins, "A is for Accident. Adam had an accident. It's all right, Adam." Sweet, brightly colored acrylic illustrations discreetly show the kids using a potty chair or a toilet, washing hands, and pulling on clothing, with only a few bare bottoms revealed. "J is for Just like. Jack goes peepee standing up, just like Daddy" shows the back view of a father standing at a toilet while his son stands beside him at a potty. Another painting shows a cat using a litter box and a dog using the backyard while Keenan uses his potty chair. Written at a young child's level of understanding, this title will be useful in showing toddlers how others have accomplished this feat.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Publishers Weekly
O'Connell (Baby Goes Beep) offers up a literary twofer, matching every letter of the alphabet to both a toilet-training related act and a child's name. With the exception of one fudge (she uses “Lexi” for X), the alliterative result brings to mind a winsome Everybody Poops crossed with “It's a Small World (After All).” Thus, “F is for Flush. Farook knows it's fun to flush” and “U is for Underpants. Usma uses underpants. She puts them on herself.” Although first-time picture book illustrator Gulliver's rosy-cheeked toddlers and cozy acrylic vignettes may strike boys as overly precious, most kids (and parents) should be impressed by the book's comprehensiveness (“W is for Wipe. Wendy wipes from front to back”) and how author and illustrator achieve a cheerful frankness. Poops (including a kitty's) are never hidden from view, and Quashiba poses the question, “Where does the peepee go?” while her mother sits on the toilet. Ages 2–5. (Mar.)
