Book Review: The Princess and the Fog: A Story for Children with Depression by Lloyd Jones

The Princess and the Fog: A Story for Children with Depression by Lloyd Jones is a helpful picturebook for readers of all ages. Once upon a time there was a Princess. She had everything a little girl could ever want, and she was happy. That is, until the fog came. It came slowly and unnoticed, but as it built it changed the princess. Soon she did not want to do her favorite things, or anything really. A persistent friend offered to listen, and soon the princess was able to share with others about the presence of the fog and how it made her feel. They banished the fog, at least for now, and have a plan to keep it from taking over again.

The Princess and the Fog is a wonderful book to help explain how depression can sneak up on children and adults alike, and how it can feel. It really can feel like a heavy fog that takes the wonder and joy out of things we once loved. The princess in the story is talented, smart, and well liked before the fog hit, but loses interest in the world around her once it surrounds her. this metaphor is just about perfect for depression, and the illustrations do a great job of capturing the emotion and thickness of that fog.

The Princess and the Fog is very helpful book for the many children and families that are dealing with depression. It can help the children and adults understand how it feels, give them understandable vocabulary to use, and find paths to breaking through the barriers that depression can raise. It is a wonderful discussion starter and tool that everyone can use to foster understanding and find tools to work toward solutions. The book also includes an essential guide for parents and carers by clinical pediatric psychologists, Dr Melinda Edwards MBE and Linda Bayliss.

Early Book Review: The Maloneys' Magical Weatherbox by Nigel Quinlan

The Maloneys' Magical Weatherbox by Nigel Quinlan is a middle grade book that is currently scheduled for release on July 28 2015. Neil and Liz Maloney have a secret; their father is the keeper of the Weatherbox, a magical phone booth that rings four times a year, signaling the changing of the seasons. But this summer when the family gathers to send off the season, the phone doesn’t ring and autumn does not arrive. Instead a mysterious tourist of magic shows up at their doorstep, along with two nonsensical hags and one cat-shaped bog beast. The only one not taken by surprise is their neighbor Mrs. Fitzgerald, who seems to be able to make the elements of weather itself do her bidding.  Now it’s up to Neil and Liz to discover the source of Mrs. Fitzgerald’s power and restore order to the climate.

The Maloneys' Magical Weatherbox is a story that has adventure, some mystery, and plenty of character development. The story alternates between viewpoints, which bothers some readers, but I think the transitions work well here. The Maloney siblings and parents are all interesting characters with much more to them than you expect when you start the book. In fact, even the most innocent and basic character (such as a cat) are much more than they appear. I loved the layers of each and enjoyed the discovery of their more unique aspect. The action and adventure of the story starts out like an expected fantasy novel, but as the story continued and we learn more about their world and how important each character is in the big picture it just expanded more and more. While there was a solid resolution, I would love to return to this world and have another adventure with the Maloneys or their friends.

The Maloneys' Magical Weatherbox was a great middle grade novel that can appeal to the older children and adults can also enjoy. THe characters and the story are quite dynamic with several layers and simply so much going on that it should have been overwhelming, but it wasn't. I love the world Quinlan created here, and hope that there will be further adventures here, even if it is unrelated to the Maloneys. 

Book Review: Doodle Diary of a New Mom: An Illustrated Journey Through One Mommy’s First Year by Lucy Scott

Doodle Diary of a New Mom: An Illustrated Journey Through One Mommy’s First Year by Lucy Scott includes dozens of funny moments like baby’s first lunch out to a forensic view of the living room. No matter how prepared a mother and family thinks they are, these are some universal truths that every mother can relate to, and laugh at. There are 120 two-color illustrations and is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, baby showers, or year-round fun. Also included are a few doodling prompts in the back of the book so moms can doodle their own first-year memories.

Doodle Diary of a New Mom is a fun and realistic look at what the first year of motherhood can look like. Now that I am 6 years or so out of that stage of life I can laugh about it all a little easier, and a little harder. I remember the lack of sleep (which I am still catching up on), diaper catastrophes,  the fact that it takes twice as long to pack up a kid’s gear and get them in the car that it does to run any necessary errand, and the ability of a child to complete destroy something in the time it takes you to blink (which is still in effect). Ah, the good old days- nope, not doing that again, two and done for me. The illustrations are cute and perfectly capture the sheer force of nature wrapped in cuteness that is a baby. This will make any mom or grandmother laugh, and any expectant mother a little more prepared, and a little scared about her upcoming adventures. 

Doodle Diary of a New Mom would make a great gift for mothers, grandmothers, or anyone expecting to become either in the near future. The book is funny, because it is true. As much as parents love their children, even in the midst of the crazies moments, it is a good relief to be able to laugh about it, and to see that others have gone through the same, or very similar, moments and you are far from alone!

Picturebook Review: Meet the Dullards by Sara Pennypacker and Daniel Salmieri

Meet the Dullards is a picture book by Sara Pennypacker and Daniel Salmieri. It is a clever story about dull, boring parents that want the same dull life for their children. Their home is boring. Their food is plain. Their lives are monotonous. And Mr. and Mrs. Dullard like it that way. The children; Blanda, Borely, and Little Dud want more.

Meet the Dullards is a great picturebook that will capture the attention of all readers. The adult Dullards are as boring as they come. They hope for their children to have as equally dull of a life. thankfully the children are out for adventure. They want the excitement that most children would take for granted and possibly consider dull in their own lives; reading, art, playing outside, and so on. Their parents do everything they can to keep their lives as unexciting as possible, and

Meet the Dullards is great book in the tradition of The Stupids, which has been taken out of most storytime rotations because of the connotations of the word 'stupid'. It is good fun, and might inspire younger readers to appreciate what they have, and to step out of their normal and try something new. 

Book Review: All the Little Fathers by Margaret Wise Brown, Marilyn Faucher

All the Little Fathers by Margaret Wise Brown and Marilyn Faucher is a wonderful picturebook, and just in time for Father's Day. Animals have fathers, just like you. Fathers that play with them, care for them, and love them. All the fathers are looking after their children in this fun and playful story.

All the Little Fathers is a very sweet picturebook depicting a variety of animal fathers caring for and playing with their children. There is a wide variety of ways the father's interact with their young, showing that while there are differences the love is there and the most important part of the relationship.

All the Little Fathers would make a wonderful gift to new or expecting fathers, and a perfect choice for Father's Day storytimes or sharing at home. It is simple, sweet, and nothing less than what I expect from Margaret Wise Brown. 

Book Blitz: Off Balance, Book 1 of Ballet Theatre Chronicles, by Terez Mertes Rose

Off Balance, Book 1 of Ballet Theatre Chronicles by Terez Mertes Rose

Book Description:

Alice thinks she’s accepted the loss of her ballet career, injury having forced her to trade in pointe shoes onstage for spreadsheets upstairs. That is, until the day Alice's boss asks her to befriend Lana, a pretty new company member he’s got his eye on. Lana represents all Alice has lost, not just as a ballet dancer, but as a motherless daughter. It’s pain she’s kept hidden, even from herself, as every good ballet dancer knows to do.

Lana, lonely and unmoored, desperately needs some help, and her mother, back home, vows eternal support. But when Lana begins to profit from Alice’s advice and help, her mother’s constant attention curdles into something more sinister.

Together, both women must embark on a journey of painful rediscoveries, not just about career opportunities won and lost, but the mothers they thought they knew.

OFF BALANCE takes the reader beyond the glitter of the stage to expose the sweat and struggle, amid the mandate to sustain the illusion at all cost.

Author Bio:

Terez Mertes Rose is a writer and former ballet dancer whose work has appeared in the Crab Orchard Review, Women Who Eat (Seal Press), A Woman’s Europe (Travelers’ Tales), the Philadelphia Inquirer and the San Jose Mercury News. She reviews dance performances for Bachtrack.com and blogs about ballet and classical music at The Classical Girl. She makes her home in the Santa Cruz Mountains with her husband, son and too many cats. She loves good food, good wine, and a good (but not too hard) adult ballet class. She also publishes under the name Terez Rose.

Author website:  www.terezrose.com

Author blog site: www.theclassicalgirl.com  

Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/terez.rose

Blogger Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheClassicalGirl?pnref=lhc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClassicalGrrl

Amazon order page: http://amzn.to/1bEGmmY

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13853310.Terez_Mertes_Rose

Book Review: Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr, Kate Forrester, Guy Puzey

Adventures with Waffles is a children's chapter book written by Maria Parr, illustrated by Kate Forrester, and translated by Guy Puzey. Hardly a day passes without neighbors Trille and Lena inventing some kind of adventure that often ends in trouble. Whether it’s coaxing a cow onto a boat or sledding down the steepest and iciest hill with a chicken, there is always a thrill, and sometimes an injury, to be had. Trille loves to share everything with Lena, even Auntie Granny’s waffles. But when Lena has to move away and Auntie Granny leaves the world, it sometimes seems like nothing will ever be right again. The warmth of friendship and the support of family suffuse this lightly illustrated novel, proving that when times are tough, a little taste of sweetness can make all the difference.

Adventures with Waffles is charming Norwegian import. Trille is a sweet boy with a nurturing spirit and a love from just about everything around him. Lena is a daring girl with no fear and no filter. she wants adventure and excitement regardless of the risks. With Lena's mother and Trille's extended family nearby the pair create all sort of trouble for their small town. I found myself alternating between laughing, cringing, and crying as the story unfolded. Life is a rollercoaster, and this book captured that cycle of ups and downs for these children and their family's pretty perfectly.

I will admit it. Adventures with Waffles made me cry. Oh, the feels. I laughed as Lena and Trille caused messes both literal and metaphoric as they struggled through a event filled year. This is a wonderful story that left me uplifted, but a little emotionally drained as well.

Early Book Review: Stay! A Top Dog Story by Alex Latimer

Stay! A Top Dog Story is a picturebook written by Alex Latimer.It is currently scheduled for release on July 2 2015. Buster is a very difficult dog! He is messy and tends to be naughty.  However, Ben thinks he's the best dog ever. When Ben goes on  vacation with his parents, he tries to write down everything to help Grampa look after Buster. Ben spends a good portion of his holiday thinking of other things he should have told Grampa, but maybe  Grampa can make his own list of things to help Ben's family with Buster.

Stay! A Top Dog Story is a cute story about a family with a dog that needs some traiing. Buster is a nice dog, but one that often makes messes or gets into trouble. When Ben and his parents go on a trip Benm is worried about Buster, and his Grampa. It is during this trip that Grampa starts training Buster. While Ben is filling up postcards with Buster's favorite, and least favorite, things Buster is being taught correctly and Grampa is making lists of commands and instructions to help Buster be the best dog he can be. This is a charming and sometimes silly story about a puppy and his family that need to learn how to work together for good behavior. Buster was always a great dog, but with Grampa's help he can behave well also. 

Stay! A Top Dog Story is a good story for showing that dogs need to be trained, just like people need to learn manners and skills. No dog is bad, just poorly trained. This could be a good story for showing children how much responsibility is involved in owning a dog, and how important that training is, as well as keeping up with that training.

Early Book Review: This is Sadie by Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad

This is Sadie is a picturebook written by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Julie Morstad. It is currently schedule for release on May 12 2015. Sadie is a little girl with a big imagination. She has who lived under the sea and been raised by wolves. She has had adventures in wonderland and visited the world of fairy tales. She whispers to the dresses in her closet and talks to birds in the treetops. She has wings that take her anywhere she wants to go, but that always bring her home again. She likes to make things, boats out of boxes and castles out of cushions. But more than anything Sadie likes stories, because you can make them from nothing at all. For Sadie, the world is so full of wonderful possibilities. This is Sadie, and this is her story.

This is Sadie is a charming picturebook that celebrates reading, imagination, and creativity. Sadie becomes the characters of the books she reads, or listens too, and lives the action. She creates things and her own adventures. She has the freedom and imagination that all kids should have, and uses it perfectly. I loved the illustrations that show both the reality and the imagined world of Sadie in the best light. I hope young readers, and their parents, are inspired by Sadie to use their own imaginations to get lost in a book or create like young Sadie.

This is Sadie is the perfect book to encourage imagination, reading, and invention. young readers already well versed in the glories of getting lost in a story or making up their own stories will be further encouraged and vindicated to continue on the path, while those that are a little less eager might find the inspiration to do so in this book. I highly recommend it in homes and as a story time read. 

Audio Book Review: Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Fortunately, the Milk is a children's chapter book written by Neil Gaiman, and illustrated by Skottie Young. I listened to the audiobook (read by Neil himself!) but have held the paperback in my hands. the illustrations and font work in the written version is great, as are the inflections and sounds done by Mr. Gaiman in the audio version. you cannot lose regardless of format you chose!

One morning, after mother went off on a trip, it was discovered that there was no milk. No milk for breakfast cereal, or tea. So father went to the corner store to get some, and he took a very long time. On his return he explains why to his two children. It begins with: "I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: t h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road. "Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened." This father's story of time travel, dinosaurs, volcano gods, and more fill the pages of Fortunately, the Milk. It is funny, silly, and occasionally a little unnerving as one man tries to get one container of milk home to his children. And so he can have his cup of tea and read the paper of course.

Once again, Neil Gaiman proves that he cannot go wrong. Fortunately, the Milk is a fantastically fun story full of imagination and adventure. Read it, listen to it, or both. I enjoyed it in the car with my 6 and 8 year olds- I think children and adults of all ages will find humor and delight in this book.

March 20th is a Big Day!

Not only is March 20th the first day of Spring (thank goodness!) it is also the birthday of three great children's authors! Bill Martin Jr, Lois Lowry, and Louis Sachar. I think we should celebrate by reading or listening to the work of these great authors while thinking about Spring and warmer weather.. Are you in?

Bill Martin Jr has some great choices for the youngest readers!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Here Are My Hands 

The Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry 

Ten Little Caterpillars 

Chicka Chicka ABC

Louis Sachar is great reading for silly fun or more serious moments.

Wayside School Boxed Set 

Holes 

There's A Boy in the Girls' Bathroom 

Small Steps 

Kidnapped At Birth? 

Lois Lowry is for a more mature set.

The Giver Quartet 

The Silent Boy

Autumn Street 

Number the Stars 

A Summer to Die 

Do you have a favorite from one of these authors that I did not list? Share your favorite in the comments!

Early Book Review: Eat, Leo! Eat! by Caroline Adderson and Jose Bisaillon

Eat, Leo! Eat! written by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Jose Bisaillon is a picture book that is currently scheduled for release on April 1 2015. Every Sunday Leo’s family goes to his grandmother’s house for a big family lunch. However, Leo wants no part of sitting down with his family to eat. Clever Nonna uses stories to lure Leo to her table to eat. Each week the story ties in the adventures of a young boy with the type of pasta included in the meal. Soon Leo is eager for the stories and the meal and discovers just how happy his is to have the family he does. As readers learn the names and shapes of pasta, they also learn some basic Italian and are treated to the same wonderful tales as Leo and his family. 

Eat, Leo! Eat! is a charming book about family, heritage, and some Italian vocabulary. I really liked the path Nonna took to get Leo to the table, and the ever expanding story. I saw some of my own family in the good-natured teasing, and abundance of food at family gatherings. The illustrations by Jose Bisaillon are colorful and have a playful feel to them. The pictures do a wonderful job of adding details to the narrative and bringing the story to life. I think the loving family and 

Eat, Leo! Eat! is a wonderful picture book for family and school and library sharing. The story is fun and has adventure, but it can also be used to spark discussion about family, foreign languages, various cultures and their stories, and food. The book would also be great to use as a storytelling prompt or example starting a class or child writing their own ongoing tale, or a chain story where they each have a chance to expand upon the original. 

Book Review: I Love You Just Like This! by Lillian Jaine and Ernie Kwiat

I Love You Just Like This! is a Sesame Street picturebook by Lillian Jaine and Ernie Kwiat. This sweet book features Elmo and other favorite characters as the go through a variety of ways people can love you. 

I Love You Just Like This! is a sweet picturebook about love that also deals with the concepts of counting, colors, depth, and more. Combining some basic concept knowledge with the fun message of how much a mother lovers her child, or how much anyone can love those dear to them, is nice on several levels. The familiar characters and bright colors will capture the attention of Sesame street fans and keep it. 

I Love You Just Like This! is a well done picturebook. The concept and execution are well done, even if it is not a new concept or extremely original. It would make a good bedtime or snuggle time read with your favorite little monster. 

Early Book Review: Ready, Set, Kindergarten by Paula Ayer and Danielle Arbour

Ready, Set, Kindergarten is a picturebook by Paula Ayer and Danielle Arbour which is currently schedule for release on March 2 2015. This charming tale of a little girl’s experience touches on the many milestones children concur while getting ready and going to school for the first time. The child can count out plates when she helps Dad set the table, call out letters when she walks with Mom, and help her stuffed animals say sorry after they fight. With a little help from Mom, Dad, her cat, and faithful toy mouse, she’s now ready for her new adventure, kindergarten!

Ready, Set, Kindergarten is a picturebook great for families approaching the milestone of kindergarten. It uses clear, simple language and pictures that are colorful and still somehow soothing. It reaches out to parents that might be worried their child is not ready with some things they can do with their child to get them ready, and helps show children that kindergarten is safe, fun, and a great place for learning.

I would recommend Ready, Set, Kindergarten to any family with parents or children worried about being ready for kindergarten. I think it would also be good for use in preschools and day care centers as the children in their care get ready to face kindergarten as well. 

How to Encourage and Interest Beginning Readers

When children first discover books some parents and educators push hard to keep that interest high, which others just seem to let it fade. I find that many kids will dig their heels in and avoid what ever is being pushed at them, while others need that encouragement. I think the best thing we can all do is set a good example, and show that reading can be enjoyable. Another key in promoting reading is to offer a variety of books that are reading level and age appropriate. It is also good to have a wide variety of formats and topics, however if your young reader is obsessed with a particular topic (like my daughter with animals) than picking books at least vaguely related to the topic might be the perfect lure.

Here are some suggestions for emergent and beginning readers that just might place them on the path to be book lovers.

Mo Willems’ Who is That, Cat the Cat? and frankly just about anything he writes, are wonderful books for young readers. His use of rhyme, repetition and humor make the inevitable rereading fun for the adults that might be read the book as well as for the young readers. The Cat series, Elephant and Piggie Series, as well as the Pigeon series are all hits with readers of all ages in my house. 

Like my man Mo, I find that James Dean's Pete the Cat series is consistently great reading for this group. From I Love my White Shoes to the more recent Pet the Cat and the New Guy there is rhyming, humor, and a song like quality to all of the books. Some of the Pete books are in classic picturebook format while others are easyreaders, but they are all great fun.
Another all around winner is Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy series. I have not had much time exploring this series, as neither my son or daughter are interested in anything that could be considered fancy, or most days even neat, but they are hugely popular in the library.
Getting through those authors will take a good chunk of time, but variety is the spice of life. 

So in the effort to mix things up and keeping a variety of different reading options available I would also suggest:  Patricia MacLachlan, is another author you can count on. White Fur Flying is an great book for this group, but has no illustrations. Fly Away and  Once I Ate a Pie are other good options. For the readers that are more determined and advanced they might want to step up to her more sophisticated book: The Truth of Me: About a Boy, his Grandmother, and a Very Good Dog, Hilary McKay’s Lulu series, which so far includes Lulu and the Duck in the Park,  Lulu and the Dog from the Sea, Lulu and the Cat in the Bag, Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door, Lulu and the Hedgehog in the Rain, and Lulu and the Hamster in the Night.

I also suggest Kate Messner’s Marty McGuire Has Too Many Pets, Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series, Jeff Brown's Flat Stanley series, Annie Burrow's Ivy & Bean series, Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson or Blink & Gollie series,  and any books published under Scholastic's new Branches imprint which are specifically targeted to this group of growing readers to capture their interest and get them to love reading.

Thankfully there are a large number of books with the large print, quick pace, and simple wording that will satisfy even the most reluctant of new readers. To whet the appetite, do not forget that most of these books are also available on audiobook. I hooked my young readers on the Magic Tree House series by playing the audio books in the car and then offering the books in the house. That made the harder words and ideas more accessible to them, and kept them interested and reading!

Did I miss one of your favorites? If so, share your suggestions in the comments so others can add them to their reading lists.

Book Review: The Possible Police by Wylde Scott

The Possible Police by Wylde Scott is a picturebook about inspiring big dreams and imagination in children. In this book a young child encounters The Possible Police. They will do whatever it takes to stop children from believing. In this picture book, Wylde takes your child into his boundless imagination as he fights off the possible police. Join him as he inspires children to truly believe, and teaches them that no one can stop them from doing what they dream.

It is important that we teach our children about hard work, but it is just as important that we teach them to dream, and sometimes to dream big, and crazy, and wonderful. The Possible Police is a book that shows kids how important it can be to dream the big crazy dream no matter how naysayers and others might try to stifle them. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful with a watercolor cartoon feel. I really enjoyed the book, and think it could really hit home with many families.

I would recommend The Possible Police as a classroom or shared reading book to start with. I think it is important for younger readers to have the adults in their lives, that may act as unintentional possible police on occasion, share these ideas and be reminded themselves that the creativity and imagination of childhood is wonderful. 

Toilet Training Books for Parents Informative Books to Help and Reassure

Toilet training is something all parents both dread and look forward to in our child's development. We look forward to having a diaper free house, but not the battles and set backs that can take place. Here are some books to read to help decide if your toddler is ready, and ideas and techniques that can help you and your child on the path to being completely diaper free.

My first suggestion to read is the Everything Potty Training Book. I picked this book up of the parent shelf at the library, along with some others, and found that it gave the best summary of everything I needed to know. It gave the expected information on how to tell if your child was ready to use the potty, and a great description of several of the most popular techniques for potty training. The overview gives parents the information and confidence necessary to work with their toddler and succeed in getting them using the potty as well as dealing with any setbacks and issues that might arise.

Stress-Free Potty Training is another book that gives the basics of several proven toilet training methods, and information to help you decide which is right for you and your child. Since every child is different, we as parents need to be open to suggestions and advise from the experts. These two books had the most comprehensive and functional information that I have seen.

For the fiercely determined, to get potty training done quickly you might be tempted to aim for Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day, but honestly, it is not really one day. The method includes laying a lot of groundwork in the months prior to potty training day, including things that might otherwise be included in the potty training process. However, the actual potty action does happen in one day. I did not actually try this intense but fun .sounding method, which hinges on an all day potty party with the child being trained, however many of the preparatory training was useful in my home, and the theory of the method does seem sound. There is also Potty Training in Less Than a Day and Potty Train in Three Days.

For a completely different tone, try The No-Cry Potty Training Solution, which focuses on methods that are more relaxed, and child driven. These methods might take longer, but are also less likely to have serious set backs and struggles than the more pressured methods. This book is ideal for people without time lines such as needing to have your child potty trained to continue in day care or go to Pre School. The process is much more relaxed for both you and your child.

For those of us with stubborn boys that know what they need to do, but don't want to stop playing on a regular basis I suggest Potty Training Boys the Easy Way which talks about all the different issues that can arise with potty training boys whether they are starting early or late.

Every child is different, and no one method will work for every child. This holds true for twins and multiples. I suggest reading several books, preferably borrowing them from a library before spending money on any and only buying the ones you find specifically useful. There are many more quality books on toilet training out there, these just happen to be some of the ones that I have read and found helpful in my quest potty train my son. I am sure that one my daughter is ready it will be a completely different experience.

Great Potty Training Books to Share Read Along with Your Toddler

Potty Training can be a trying time, but there is no need to do it without some great books to read together and have some laughs along the way. Here are some books to buy or borrow and enjoy. 

Even Firefighters Go To The Potty by Wendy Wax was a big hit with my son. He had reached the point where he knew what he had to do, what we wanted him to do, but simply didn't want to stop doing whatever he was doing to take a potty break. This fun book with lifting flaps showed him that everyone needed to take breaks during the day to use the potty even firefighters, police officers, teachers and baseball payers. Therefore, it would be okay for him to take breaks too. 


The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts by Shinta Cho is a laugh inducing book from the title alone. However the book gives some information along side the chuckles, the whys and hows of gas are explained. Expect laughter and silly noises, but toddlers simply love this book. Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi is another informative but laughter inducing book to share. 

Once Upon A Potty by Alona Frankel is available in both girl and boy versions, I have linked to the boy version since that is the one I have actually read. It is a very basic potty training book for toddlers, giving them the essentials of what they need to know and do. In a similar vein is My Big Boy Potty by Joanne Cole and The Potty Book by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, both of which are also available if girl or boy editions.

If your child is a big Sesame Street fan, you might want to pick up Too Big For Diapers, which makes potty instruction simple and easy. We follow Ernie as he ditches the diapers and learns to use the big boy potty all by himself. If this seems to be something that might be a hit in your house then Sesame Beginnings: Potty Time gives you the same lessons with baby Grover.

Finally yet importantly is A Potty For Me by Karen Katz. This book is interactive with flaps to lift and occupy your toddler as they sit and you wait for nature to take its course. This book is also good for toddlers that are not quite ready to use the potty to introduce the concept and basic practicalities of using the potty.

There are a large number of potty books out there, and these are some that were received well in my house, your child might rather watch videos or read a different selection of books. I think these are universally helpful and enjoyable by both parents and toddlers.