Customer Reviews

Ferdinand Uses the Potty: Overcoming Bed-Wetting Fears

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Anyone who has or works with young children, knows how difficult and frustrating potty training can be. When a child is in the early stages of learning how to use the bathroom on their own, it can be one of the more frightening experiences of their young lives. The noise of the flush, the sensations that are new to their bodies, and the feeling of having to do something on their own is not an easy transition for most kids, and their parents!

That's when some outside assistance, such as "Ferdinand Uses The Potty," can provide families a new perspective on tackling life's daily urgencies.

Author Jay Tucker approaches potty training from a child's point of view. The wonderfully illustrated character, Ferdinand, discovers that he has some potty issues while he is asleep at night. So, he seeks advice from a friend who shares his own personal experiences with bed wetting to help Ferdinand confront his own fears.
This is an excellent way of looking at such a sensitive issue for young kids. The book is written so that it confirms and understands a child's feelings. Many children may feel that having an "accident" makes them a "bad" person, or that their friends or family may get upset with them. Amidst the clever rhymes and the expertly detailed and fun illustrations, families can learn together how to gain the courage to take that scary leap to becoming a "big kid now."

I have been teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten students for the last nine years, and I have read a dozen other children's books on this subject before. I recommend Ferdinand's tale over the other titles for many reasons.
First, the vocabulary, language, and rhyme are easy for young children to comprehend, as well as make the story interesting and fun. The author also presents the material with an empathetic voice to allow young readers to know that they are not alone in their bathroom endeavors.

Also, this book doesn't present the material in a silly and disgusting format, like some other titles on this subject so often do. This book has humor and wit, but it is done with dignity and maturity, which also sets a good example for kids.

Jay Tucker also paces the story quite well, where we see Ferdinand go from discovery, to confusion and angst, and finally to bravery and success. The illustrations are colorful, fun, beautifully drawn and are a perfect match to move the story along. The pictures make me want to pick up the book and read it again and again!

Overall, this is an excellent book for teaching about such an important part of life. I commend the makers of this book for succeeding in empowering children and helping parents along the way.

Ferdinand wakes up wet and confused and does not understand! Was there a leak in the plumbing or the roof? Was it raining inside?? Soon Ferdinand realizes that there was not a leak, but that he had wet the bed. The book continues into a cute story with a fresh approach to the subject of bed wetting after potty training. This book has a fun interactive approach to teaching kids one of the easiest ways to not have accidents at night.

This book is not for younger children who are learning to use the potty. The title is somewhat misleading. I originally chose this book because I thought it would help my two year old with potty training. She would not even sit to read the book. There is a lack of pictures on many pages and the wording is geared towards older children. The book did not address the concepts of how to use the potty, why to use the potty or what the toilet is for. It is geared towards children who already understand those concepts.

Ferdinand uses the potty is an adorable, colorful book for older children who are already potty trained. It approaches the problem of bed wetting and some of the fears of using the potty. For example, Ferdinand is able to stop wetting the bed as often because he is uses the potty more frequently during the day. Ferdinand has a fear of the sound the toilet makes but learns that it is not scary and it helps him stay dry at night. My four year old daughter who is potty trained like the book and asked questions about Ferdinand, but she has been potty trained for almost 2 years now.

I recommend this book to parents whose children can use the potty, but may have some apprehensiveness still. It is a cute, easy to read book that helps parents and children connect during a difficult process that can be confusing and frustrating at times.

What is one of the most difficult things to teach young children? A poll of parents would probably find that "potty training" is the answer of a large number. There are many different theories of toilet training, but whatever method you use, this book is intended to prepare both parents and children in facing the obstacles that potty training may bring. Author, Jay Tucker uses humorous rhyming text to tell about a frog named Ferdinand who wakes up one night to find that he has wet his bed but is afraid to use the toilet because of the flushing sound that it makes. In fact, Ferdinand is scared of the noise so much that he tries his best not to go to the potty all! However, one day a friend helps him bravely to face the flushing toilet.
Ferdinand Uses the Potty is a great resource for preschoolers and parents alike. Ferdinand's bravery will gently encourage children to be confident in dealing with their own potty training fears. In addition, it will provide parents with a useful aid in giving children the assistance needed to overcome the challenges of potty training. Illustrator D. E. West is a former production artist for Hallmark Cards. His colorful and entertaining drawings will surely present opportunities for laughter between a parent and child as the book is being read loud. Coloring book sheets and other related fun activities can be found at the book's website. What a delightful way to turn something that could be a source of great drudgery and even conflict into a true learning experience!

Ferdinand Uses the Potty
Written by Jay Tucker and Illustrated by D.E. West

Ferdinand Uses the Potty is an endearingly cute children's book that uses rhythm and rhyme to tell the story of Ferdinand, a hip little yellow frog that experiences a great fret when he wakes up and find that his bed is all wet. He shares his experience with his good friend. His friend reassures him that many other little boys go through the same thing and that it is a natural thing. Ferdinand confesses that he does not know what to do and that there is ONE thing that he is scared of! To find out what Ferdinand is afraid of and how he and his friend solve the problem, you will have to read this book!

The purpose of this book is to open communication between the child and the parent (or reader) about the mishaps of bed-wetting and overcoming the fears that many children possesses about using the potty. While I believe that this book will encourage many children just beginning the journey of toilet training, I firmly believe that this book will be even more beneficial to those children that have passed the initial potty training stage. This book will speak volumes to a child who has begun elementary school that still has challenges when it comes to potty training.

The message and content is clear: confidence. Children will enjoy reading this book over and over again as they listen to the rhythm of the dialog in this colorful, well illustrated tale of two friends that share and reason together.

I also believe that this book reminds parents of the importance of praise and testimony when it comes to lovingly encouraging a child to receive a positive outcome.

This book would make a great gift to a child beginning to potty train. Although it is not a hard back book, the cover is pretty sturdy and can be kept "like new" with adult supervision. The pictures are bright and full of color and illustrate the conversation well enough for a child to understand the meaning by just viewing the pictures. I highly recommend this book. I give it 5 stars!

When Ferdinand the frog discovers at wet spot in his bed, he's both dismayed and mystified. Where could this mysterious dampness have come from? His friend -- a human boy -- explains that he too has wet the bed in his younger days, telling Ferdinand it's understandable that he's upset but that peeing the bed doesn't mean he's bad. His recommendation? Use the potty after every meal.

Unfortunately Ferdinand has an aversion to the potty, he's terrified of the noise it makes when it flushes! After trying to "hold it" all day long Ferdinand Uses the Potty and succeeds in overcoming his fear.

Written in rhyming prose, Ferdinand is a bold, enthusiastic exploration of overcoming bed-wetting and the commonly held fear about using the potty that can arise after children understand the basic concepts of potty-training. Ferdinand and his young friend don't attempt to explain the basics of going to the potty, or even describe the event in much detail -- they rather focus in on being afraid of the toilet, and to some extent on wetting the bed.

Author Jay Tucker's prose is somewhat irregular however. At times the rhyming scheme works well, at other times it's just awkward. Clearer rhythmic schemes or writing in simple prose would have worked better for parents trying to read this book aloud to their toddlers.

The spacing of the illustrations is also a bit odd for a picture book. Some stretches of pages feature an illustration on each page. Others have text on one side and an illustration on the other. Both arrangements are fairly standard, but some facing pages feature only text, which make it difficult to keep hold of the short attention spans of squirmy toddlers and preschoolers. My youngest daughter is gearing up for potty training, and I couldn't interest her in Ferdinand though she does adore her other potty training picture book. She could find it harder to relate to a frog as a main character than she does to a smiling little girl as well.

With both Ferdinand and his friend being male, and Ferdinand's dreamings and days filled with exuberant action (car racing, comics, toys etc.), this title could be a good fit for little boys who already have the head knowledge necessary to potty train, but are still struggling with some issues. Because boys can be trickier to teach, and have a greater tendency towards wetting and potty-fear, this encouraging title emphasizes that they're still good, and will some day overcome their difficulties.

Reviewed by: Debbie Smart

Written in fun rhyme by author, Jay Tucker, Ferdinand Uses the Potty is about a frog named Ferdinand who wets his bed and is scared of the flushing sound the toilet makes. Ferdinand hates the sound so much he tries his hardest to not go to the potty all! Until one day with help from a friend, Ferdinand bravely faces the flushing toilet.

Ferdinand Uses the Potty is a good book for preschoolers and parents alike. Ferdinand's bravery will encourage a child to confident and face his or her own potty training fears. For parents,

Ferdinand Uses the Potty will assist in giving children the encouragement needed to overcome the challenges of potty training.

The illustrations in Ferdinand Uses the Potty are done by D.E. West who was a former production artist for Hallmark Cards. The colorful and entertaining illustrations are sure to provide the opportunity for laughter between parents and children as they face the obstacles that potty training may bring.

Ferdinand uses the potty is a wonderful book that provides parents with an encouraging tool. Tucker did a fantastic job creating a book that a parent or child will read and gain confidence while overcoming potty training. The illustrations are inviting and create a safe space for children that are taking steps towards potty training. Fedinand is a friendly, encouraging, confidence building frog that your children will love learning from.

I got this book for my 3 yr old son who is speech delayed. He is fully urnied trained but number two is ending up not in the bowl. Because he is speech delayed it is hard to find out why he just refuses to sit and poop. I thought a book about someone being afraid of the toilet was great and maybe this will help! The book is way to wordy and any 3 yr old wouldn't sit through it. I didn't want to read it after a bit.