The Prince and the Potty

The Prince and the Potty

by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
Illustration by Keiko Motoyama

The prince will not use his potty, and the king and queen are quite perplexed! They are even more confused when they consult the Royal Wise Man, who tells them to get the prince a puppy. But the wisdom of his words becomes perfectly plain as the prince learns all about using a proper potty from his new pet.

A regal alternative to traditional potty training books, this book weaves the story of a young prince and his quest to train his puppy with his own struggle with letting go of his diaper. Reluctant children will see that not only does the prince decide to use the potty but his puppy also becomes trained by the end of the story. Kids will love the adorable puppy and will without doubt feel a sense of accomplishment for the prince when he uses the big boy potty. The illustrations are colorful and perfectly show the emotions, especially the excitement of using the potty for the first time.

This is a wonderful story to share with a child who is learning to use the potty. It successfully conveys this message without feeling forced and allows children to begin to consider the possibility of being potty trained without pressuring them into it. Discuss with your child the mechanics of using the potty and perhaps, if you feel they are ready for it, suggest they sit on the potty while you read them the story. At the end of the book, there may be two reasons to celebrate: for the prince and for your child!

I read this story to Emily, the three-year-old I babysit, and she loved it! She thought the puppy was cute and that the prince made the correct choice in choosing the puppy. Although she's already potty trained, she's still fascinated with all things potty-related so this story proved to be a huge hit.

--Abby