Alona Frankel wrote her first book on how to use the potty in 1975, for her son Michael. 33 years later, Once Upon A Potty-Boy and Once Upon A Potty-Girl have come out in sturdy board books to be introduced to a new generation of potty-trainers. The books I received from Parent Bloggers Network also came with companion Audio CDs that include introductions from the author, the Once Upon A Potty story read by Jennifer Morehead, The Potty Song, and more.

The illustrations are my favorite part of this book, I remember the brightly colored pages with coordinating flowers from when I read the Boy version of the book to my sons. But here’s the thing, and it’s the one thing I don’t like about this book-the potty that Prudence (the girl in the Girl book, the Boy character is Joshua) gets from her Grandmother looks absolutely nothing like any kind of potty used today, it looks like a big water pitcher. I learned from her website that Ms. Frankel is from Poland, and perhaps that was the kind of potty used there in 1975 when she wrote the book. And as humorous as “is it a birdbath, is it a flowerpot, is it a hat?” is, it doesn’t help potty-trainers make the connection between the illustration and what they are using themselves. Just my opinion.

I’m sorry to say that reading this book and listening to the CD has NOT changed my daughter’s mind about potty training. She will turn 3 on November 18. She will climb up on her stepstool and sit down on the potty ring insert, and sit there. She will not actually do anything however. This past summer I kept her bottomless when I could, thinking it would make it easier for her to go in the potty since she wouldn’t have to remove clothing first. Nope. She just peed and pooped on the floor. My husband and I have both asked her, does she want to be a big girl and go pee and poop in the potty? No, she says, just in my diaper. Sigh.

I got so frustrated that I set up a phone call with the pediatrician who works with Pampers. She asked me a few questions and then pointed out that if Kaitlyn is wet when she wakes up from short naps, that means her bladder is not ready. When she starts waking up dry, that means she is able to hold it in until she gets to the potty. That’s when she’ll be ready to potty train. So, I am going to be patient. I’m not going to pressure her or create more stress than necessary. I’ll keep Once Upon A Potty out where she can read it whenever she wants, and who knows, maybe it will help. Can’t hurt.

Oh, I forgot to add, Parent Bloggers Network also sent me the Boy version of this book. I plan to give it away but right now I am swamped, so watch for that coming up here soon. Thanks PBN!

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