What Parents Should Know
Princesses, castles and moats are used to introduce the
potty and its proper use.
Colorful pictures with very little text (one sentence per page) will keep the little ones interested and entertained.
Common Sense Media Review
The story is basic and easy for the very young listener to
understand and to relate to; the pictures are softly colored,
appealing, and even humorous. (For example, the queen mother
wears her tiara on top of the bandanna tied around her head,
and there's a gold crown embroidered on her apron!).
Children will laugh at the ensuing chaos when the princess feels the need to go while she's playing at the top of the castle. Cake and peas fly around the kitchen as the cook rushes to her rescue. Vegetables fill the air as the gardener tries to help. Despite the grown-ups' good intentions, however, the potty arrives too late, and the little princess is left standing in a puddle.
"Is she in trouble?" one three-year-old asked at the final page. The author could have added a page or two to show that, yes, the princess had an accident but, sure, we all do -- and it's okay. It's not the end of the world.
Other potty-training stories youngsters may enjoy are Vicki Lansky's "Koko Bear's New Potty" and Fred (Mister) Rogers's "Going to the Potty." Ross is also the author of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
