You Can Go to the Potty (Sears Children Library) [Hardcover]

William Sears (Author), Martha Sears (Author), Christie Watts Kelly (Author), Renee Andriani (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up | Series: Sears Children Library

You Can Go to the Potty clearly introduces the basic steps of toilet learning in a natural, non-pressured way. Written by the authors of the acclaimed Sears Parenting Library, it features reassuring text and lively, full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

PreS. Here's an offering from the group that produced 11 books on parenting and child care for adults. This one is directed to potty trainees, though the subtext and the sidebars are for adults. The book begins with a several-page note advising parents that the training can last anywhere from two days to two years and pointing out how to tell when children are ready to begin the process. The text generally hits the mark in terms of packaging its information, but the tone veers between an almost cloying babyishness ("poo-poo goes bye-bye in the toilet") to more sophisticated sidebars for the "very curious" ("Why do boys have a penis and girls a vulva and vagina?"). The cartoon-style artwork is child-friendly, but it may not suit adults who are faint of heart. "Poo-poo" is tossed in the toilet, and "pee-pee" puddles on the floor. The back matter includes a list of parenting resources in books and on the Web. This is almost two books in one, and there's plenty of encouragement for both children and parents. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

William Sears received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital and Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. He has practiced pediatrics for nearly thirty years and is associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California School of Medicine, Irvine.

Martha Sears is a registered nurse and a parenting and breastfeeding consultant. Together the Searses have authored eleven books on parenting, childcare, and nutrition.

Christie Watts Kelly has a degree in elementary education from the University of Memphis. Now a freelance writer and editor, she teaches prenatal yoga and is cofounder of the Memphis chapter of Attachment Parenting International.

Renee Andriani is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. In addition to illustrating the Sears Children's Library series and other books for children, she illustrates magazines and greeting cards.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316788880
• ISBN-13: 978-0316788885
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Toilet Training
  • #81 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Personal Hygiene

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best potty learning book out there, December 4, 2002

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: You Can Go to the Potty (Sears Children Library) (Hardcover)

We have purchased many books in this genre :-) and are delighted with this book by childcare experts William and Martha Sears. The book starts with a three-page introduction for parents, discussing readiness and approach. The text for children is comforting and informative -- letting kids know that there was a time that parents did everything for them but now they are growing up, and using the toilet is another aspect of their growth, like dressing or feeding themselves. Cartoon pictures show a little boy using a potty seat and his older siblings using the adult toilet seat. An older boy urinates standing up, and handwashing is shown. Sidebars on most pages address questions that children might ask with suggested answers. The process is emphatically positive though constipation and accidents are also mentioned. The book concludes with a page about attachment parenting.

The only thing I didn't like was the use of the terms "pee-pee" and "poo-poo" but that's easy enough to change as you read. The message is comforting at the same time the text is informative for kids, discussing the mechanics of the process as well as the benefits.

There is also a pull-out poster that shows the steps involved, and this can be placed on the bathroom wall or maybe in a spot your youngster tends to seek out when s/he feels the need to go potty.

Excellent.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great parenting book by Dr. Sears!, January 15, 2003

By 

Nikol Le Vine "poet17" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: You Can Go to the Potty (Sears Children Library) (Hardcover)

This book is excellent for parents who practice Attachment Parenting. It starts by explaining that when the child was a baby, their parents did everything for them. This shows a mother breastfeeding, parents and baby co-sleeping, and a father "wearing" the baby in a sling. It then talks about diapers and how as children get older, they use the potty like their parents. There are lots of parent tips that appear in the margins, encouraging further discussion and customizing things to suit your family's needs and preferences. As always, Dr. Sears encourages you to follow your instincts.

The story itself isn't much different from the one you'd find in The Potty Book or other training books. It follows a child through potty training, buying underwear, etc. The narrative uses language a child can understand, but sometimes it seemed a bit too babyish for me. ("poo-poo goes bye-bye"). I don't think you have to talk down to kids to get them to understand. But, that small complaint aside, the book is informative and positive. It's a wonderful teaching tool, and perfectly suited for Attachment families.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heads Above the Rest, September 26, 2003

By 

Michelle "michellesays" (U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Can Go to the Potty (Sears Children Library) (Hardcover)

Everything you need to know about potty training (oops! I mean potty LEARNING as per Dr. Sears) is contained in this 32-page picture book. The first three pages have helpful notes to parents and caregivers. The story itself includes sidebars, or blocks of supplemental material, designed to answer the persistent questions (Why? Why? Why?) of curious children. The last page provides details about attachment parenting, a responsive style of raising children, and a list of various Internet, textbook, and organizational resources. The special bonus? A pull-out poster with seven simple steps to hang in the bathroom.

Renowned pediatrician Dr. William Sears and his R.N. wife Martha team up with writer Christie Watts Kelly to produce a book that stands heads above the rest. Impressive credentials, comprehensive content...but does it pass the read-aloud test?

I didn't discover this book until late in the game. My girls had already graduated to big-girl underwear and pull-ups. But I read it to them anyway. The cartoon illustrations rendered by Renee Andriani captured their attention - for awhile. Then they lost interest. Too wordy? Or just too late? My third child is due next year. When the time comes, I'll try this book again to teach the fundamentals. When s/he understands what to do, but needs extra time to do it, we'll read potty books I find more entertaining.