Once Upon a Potty--Boy [Hardcover]

Alona Frankel (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 1999 | Age Range: 4 and up

This best-selling book-and-doll package includes a newly designed Joshua or Prudence doll and potty, paired with the Once Upon a Potty picture book.

Just like you, Joshua has a body, and this body has many nice and useful parts:
A head for thinking
Eyes for seeing
Ears for hearing
A mouth to talk and eat with
Hands for playing
A pee-pee for making Wee-Wee
Legs for walking and running
A bottom for sitting and in it a little hole for making Poo-Poo

Potty talk has long been considered taboo in conversation--even between parent and child. Thankfully, Alona Frankel presents toilet training in a frank, open way for parents and children. Available in both Girl and Boy formats, Once Upon a Potty books are best used as companion volumes to a child's new potty.

Dear Fellow-Parents,

Once Upon a Potty is best used as a companion volume to a child's new potty. I wrote this book when my own child was toilet training to help him better understand the process. My son was encouraged and excited by this story. It motivated him to make the developmental leap from diaper to potty.

Learning to use the potty is often a lengthy process, taxing the patience of both parent and child. When success finally comes--and it should come in its own good time, without undue pressure or haste--it enhances the child's confidence and pride. He has taken another step toward independence. He sat on the potty as a little child and got up feeling ten-feet tall.

It's one small step for mankind, but a giant one for your family.

Love,
Alona

Editorial Reviews

Review

Your child will be empowered by Joshua as he learns to use his new potty.

My little boy is one of those kids that has to understand the why and how of things. If he doesn't see the point of something, he simply won't do it. Once Upon a Potty-Boy shows him step by step and explains things in a way he seemed to comprehend. At least now he's willing to try the potty. And that's a big step in the right direction. (Tami Brady TCM Reviews 2010) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Author

Dear Fellow-Parents,

Once Upon a Potty is best used as a companion volume to a child's new potty. I wrote this book when my own child was toilet training to help him better understand the process. My son was encouraged and excited by this story. It motivated him to make the developmental leap from diaper to potty.

Learning to use the potty is often a lengthy process, taxing the patience of both parent and child. When success finally comes--and it should come in its own good time, without undue pressure or haste--it enhances the child's confidence and pride. He has taken another step toward independence. He sat on the potty as a little child and got up feeling ten-feet tall.

It's one small step for mankind, but a giant one for your family.

Love,
Alona --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperFestival; First U.S. Edition edition (July 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0694013870
• ISBN-13: 978-0694013876
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (154 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #994,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alona Frankel is the author and illustrator of over thirty titles for children, including the well-known Once Upon a Potty titles. Ms. Frankel's work has earned her a place on the Honor List of the International Board on Books for Young Children, several Parents Choice awards, and many additional honors and awards. She lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A super little book for boys and their pottys July 25, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I love everything about this tiny book featuring Joshua and his new potty. To begin with, the illustrations are bright and eye catching. But the very best part of the book is the cler and simple language that the author uses to tell the story. As a first-time mom, I had no idea how to speak to my son about using his little potty chair or what to say about the fluids, etc., coming out of his body. I also found myself very frustrated at the end of a long day, cleaning up an unexpected mess or changing yet another pair of training pants. However, by using the language in the book, and repeating Joshua's mother's kind words about "accidents", I was able to keep my cool and not make potty training any harder for my son. It's nice to see a potty book that shows a child having accidents occasionally but still succeeding. It's also nice to have words to explain to a small child what the new potty is and not to be scared of it. I'm actually logged on today to buy another copy for a friend! Love this book!!!

102 of 126 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Unsure February 12, 2004

By Victoria Kelsey

Format:Hardcover

I like the straightforward way the book explains the learning process behind potty training. However, I'm very put off by the "potty", which is, in actuality, a pot. Historically accurate, yes, but hardly applicable to today's world. My son, after reading the book several times, pointed to the giant potted tree we have in the living room, looked at me and said "Potty?"

Um, no, honey.

I also have started from a very young age with my boys teaching them anatomically correct words for their body parts. We use "stomach", "penis", and "buttocks" or "bottom". I really dislike the usage of the words "pee pee", "poo poo" and "wee wee".

I understand this is personal preference, but if your preferences are like mine, you should know.

85 of 105 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I really disliked this book! February 21, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I hate to be so negative, but I did NOT like this book. Here are my primary criticisms, in no particular order.

1) The tone of the book is strange to me. The author says things like "Ever since Joshua was born, he has been making wee-wee and poo-poo into his diaper, and I, his mother have been changing him." She says things like this over and over again. It seems like she is complaining about all of the diaper changes. And where's dad? Given the wierd tone of the book, you're half expecting her to launch into an attack on the dead-beat dad of this good-for-nothing kid that keeps wee-weeing everywhere and wasting her time. :) OK, I'm exaagerating, but its just a little wierd to me.

2) She actually uses terms like "a pee-pee for making wee-wee". We raised out son to say penis and pee, so this seems absurdly babyish to me. Something more neutral would've been better.

3) As others have noted, the potty is not a standard potty chair, but a pitcher with a handle. I don't get the point of that.

A much cuter book, IMO, is Joanna Cole's My Big Boy Potty. I think its more upbeat, less strange and more useful. And she even includes helpful potty training tips at the end.