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13 Best Potty Training Books for Kids: 2024 Picks

Updated
Ease your baby into potty training with one of these great books.

If you’re searching for the perfect potty training book to help your little one get excited about using the potty, you’ll quickly find yourself overwhelmed by all the available options. We understand because we’ve also stood in that book aisle, staring at the shelves of possibilities. We’ve purchased books our kids have loved and some they’ve tossed across the room.

So, which are the best books for potty training? Well, it depends on where your child is at and which part of the process they might be struggling with.

To help you find the best fit, we’ve reviewed a wide selection of books that all serve different purposes in the potty training process. Some are aimed at girls, some at boys, some for kids who are afraid of the potty, and some for little ones who struggle with accidents.

Keep reading to find the best fit for your little learner.


The Best Potty Training Books of 2024

Here are 13 excellent potty training books to consider.

Diapers Are Not Forever (bilingual)

Best Multilingual Potty Book

We’ve included this title for its bilingual quality. There are benefits to introducing new languages to babies and toddlers, so why not incorporate that into potty training?

This title includes both English and Spanish sentences on each page, so you can choose which one you’d like to read with them at the time.

It reminds your child that they’re becoming a big kid. It then hints at the fact that, since they’re growing up, they’ll need to learn to use the potty.

It goes through the routine and includes a short guide for parents at the end of the story to help you help your child.

User Experience

I recently purchased this bilingual potty training book for my toddler and found it quite helpful. The inclusion of both English and Spanish sentences on each page allowed us to practice language skills while also learning about potty training. My child enjoyed the story as it reminded them that they are becoming a big kid, which motivated them to learn to use the potty. The book goes through the routine in a fun and engaging way, making it an enjoyable experience for both the child and parent. Additionally, the short guide for parents at the end of the story provided useful tips to support my child during this important milestone.

Big Girl Panties

For Motivating Reluctant Girls

For those of you with reluctant girls, this may be the best potty training book. It lightheartedly encourages girls to use the potty in a positive way by getting them excited about wearing big girl panties.

The story uses catchy rhymes and colorful illustrations to pique your girl’s interest, which should help them feel more confident using the restroom. We recommend this title for its relatable character and vibrant illustrations.

Personal Perspective

This potty training book has been a fantastic help for our stubborn toddler. After just one day of reading it, she was eager to use the toilet and has consistently been doing so ever since. The story is simple, engaging, and emphasizes the privilege of wearing big girl panties, making the process feel special rather than a chore. Our daughter loves the illustrations and even recites the pages with us now. While the word "panties" may not be everyone's favorite, this book has definitely made potty training a more enjoyable and successful experience for our family.

P is for Potty

Best Interactive Potty Book

This book is one of our tried and true favorites because of its familiar characters and flaps. The book revolves around Elmo and Albie, as Elmo encourages toddlers to use the potty by telling them all about how to go.

It has over 25 flaps inside for your child to lift, and it’s made of sturdy material. Kids will love going through the steps and will feel obligated to “go.“

Community Feedback

I recently used the P is for Potty! (Sesame Street) Lift-the-Flap book to introduce my toddler to potty training. The vibrant illustrations and familiar characters engaged my child, while the interactive flaps piqued their curiosity. I appreciated the book's reassuring message that accidents are normal and its simple, easy-to-understand language.

The Potty Book for Girls

Gentle Introduction

Potty training varies, depending on whether you have a boy or a girl. Books that cater specifically to those differences will help them better understand how to go.

If you’re looking for a gentle way to introduce the potty to your daughter, this is an ideal title. Hannah is given a potty in the story, marking her journey into potty training.

This book made our list because the main character is independent in everything else, despite still being in diapers. It makes it relatable and empowering for your little one.

First-Hand Impression

Got this potty training book for my 3-year-old daughter, and she absolutely loved it. The story of Hannah and her teddy bear, Teddy, learning about using the potty was engaging and relatable. The colorful illustrations and rhyming text kept her attention, and it quickly became her favorite book during the potty training process. However, I noticed a few minor grammatical issues and some parts of the story that seemed unnecessary.

The Potty Book for Boys

Best Potty Book for Boys

This title is great because, like its companion for girls, it serves as a gentle introduction to the potty training journey. The book contains a storyline about an independent boy learning to use the potty.

You can start out reading this as a regular storytime pick. When your boy is ready, he’ll be more inclined to try training because he will already be familiar with the process.

User Experience

This book was a delightful and engaging read for my grandson during his potty training journey. With a relatable storyline featuring a young boy named Henry, the colorful illustrations and sing-song rhyming text kept him interested throughout the entire book. Although the grammar in some parts was a bit off-putting for me, it did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. While I can't say that it solely contributed to my grandson's potty training success, it certainly was a favorite read and a helpful addition to our routine.

Potty Superhero

For the Superkid

For those of you with a super kid, this book about the potty superhero might be a great fit. This is an encouraging, straightforward book for boys to get them excited about wearing big-boy pants.

It shows your boy how to use the potty successfully. We like this story for its fun take on this milestone.

Personal Perspective

For fans of superheroes, this potty training book is a hit with its simple rhymes and engaging illustrations. My four-year-old loves it and quickly understood the message, even pretending to read it out loud. The bright and fun pictures keep my toddler entertained and encourage him to use the potty. However, it's important to note that some pages may need to be skipped or altered depending on your child's progress in potty training, as they may send mixed messages.

Big Girls Go Potty

Simple Design

The narration of this book speaks directly to your child, which helps them learn as you read this to them. If your little girl is ready to start using the potty, Emma and her teddy bear are the perfect characters to accompany her.

We love its simple artwork and easy-to-understand story.

Community Feedback

Great potty training book with sturdy pages that can withstand the hands of a curious toddler. My little one loves reading this while sitting on her potty, and the colorful illustrations make it engaging. It's worth noting that the book includes the use of stickers as a reward system, which may not be suitable for all families. The story is easy to understand and even touches on the importance of not using too much toilet paper. I appreciate that it shows a father comforting the little girl during the potty-training process, which is a refreshing change from many other books on the subject. However, it didn't engage my child as much as some other potty-training books we've tried.

Even Firefighters Go To The Potty

Great for Encouragement

If your trainee is feeling a bit discouraged with their training journey, this book is worth checking out.

This story is a nice reminder that even the busiest people go potty. Whether you’re a firefighter, a zookeeper, or a little boy or girl, going potty is an essential part of daily life.

It teaches your child to prioritize going potty, even if it doesn’t seem important to them.

First-Hand Impression

My experience with this potty-training book has been quite positive overall. The storyline is engaging and my kids absolutely love it, especially with the fun characters like firefighters, policemen, and astronauts. The book's construction is durable and the pages are thick, making it easy to clean up any accidental splashes. The illustrations could use some improvement, with more friendly faces and a focus on being child-friendly. Despite these minor issues, this book has been a great tool for potty training and has brought smiles to both my children and myself.

Everybody Potties!

For Potty Celebrations

This story features several animals and uses rhymes to tell your child that everybody goes potty, including moms, dads, and grandmas. It also goes into age-appropriate detail about what your body may feel when you have to go potty.

The illustrations are cute, and the rhyming chant is sure to get stuck in your child’s head — and yours.

User Experience

Got this potty training book for my toddler and it quickly became one of their top favorites. The engaging rhyme scheme and adorable animal characters keep my child entertained, while covering important topics like recognizing the urge to go and proper bathroom etiquette. As a bonus, the book is easily adaptable to our own family's preferred terminology without losing its rhythm, making it a fun and effective tool for teaching potty training.

A Potty for Me

Because Accidents Happen

Because accidents are inevitable when it comes to potty training, it’s important to let your child know it’s OK.

That’s why we appreciate this title. It follows a little girl who is working on potty training and doesn’t want to go because she’s having too much fun playing. She accidentally pees her pants and gets upset until her mom says it’s OK.

We also enjoy this one because it has flaps to lift on each page and is easy for toddlers to understand.

Personal Perspective

I recently purchased this book to help introduce my toddler to the concept of potty training, and I must say it has been quite helpful. The story is engaging and features a relatable child character who goes through the ups and downs of potty training. My daughter absolutely loves the colorful illustrations and the simple rhyming text. She gets excited to sit on her potty and read this book, and it has even led to her successfully using the potty a few times! One minor drawback is the fold-out pages, which can be a bit tricky for little hands to manage.

Duck Goes Potty

Leaving the Comfort Zone

Duck is comfortable with his diapers. Perhaps a little too comfortable. When his mom proclaims there will be no more diapers, Duck is nervous about the change.

He has a few accidents along the way but eventually gets the hang of going potty. If your child is somewhat anxious about losing the diapers, they’ll be able to relate.

It could help ease their mind about the training process, and they may feel more inclined to go to the toilet.

Community Feedback

In my experience, this potty training book has been quite helpful for my 2-year-old son, who has shown progress since I started reading it to him almost every night. The book's illustrations and story make it engaging and fun for kids, especially the "poop page" that my son absolutely loves. However, be prepared to fill in some blanks about the potty training process, as the book mainly focuses on the character's attempts and occasional misses. While I would have liked to see the character helping clean up his messes, we add our own interactive element by pretending to clean up with the duck, making it a useful tool for starting potty training conversations with my stubborn little one.

Daniel Goes to the Potty

Book With Sound

This book is an adaptation of an episode of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” where Daniel has to remind himself to use the potty.

This book includes other hygiene habits to remember, like flushing and washing your hands.

It has a button that makes a flushing noise when pressed. In the story, Daniel asks for help flushing the potty, which your child can do with the interactive button.

First-Hand Impression

Definitely a helpful tool for potty-training, this book features the beloved character Daniel Tiger and includes a flush button that my child enjoys pressing. The story covers different aspects of using the bathroom and serves as a gentle reminder for children who are already familiar with the potty. However, the flush button seems to have some issues, as it is very quiet and occasionally unresponsive, which can be frustrating for children who wish to engage with the book fully.

Tot on the Pot

Unique Concept

For those of you looking for the whole kit and kaboodle, this may be the one for you. This is a set that comes with a potty book, a guide for parents, and a training doll that also comes with its own potty.

There are different dolls to choose from, so you can pick one that most resembles your child. It’s even been recommended by some pediatricians and has won titles for its concept.

It allows your child to learn how to go by taking on the responsibility of “teaching” their doll how to use the potty too.

User Experience

Excellent potty training experience with Tot on the Pot! My initially hesitant child quickly took to the adorable doll and book, memorizing the story and gaining confidence in using the potty. The parent's guide emphasized readiness, patience, and cooperation, which made the process smoother. Role-playing with the doll was essential for my child's progress, and the reward cards added extra excitement. While the doll's clothes were a bit difficult to remove, the overall experience was positive and effective in reducing accidents and making potty training enjoyable.

How to Use Potty Books

Once you’re sure your child is ready, it’s time to introduce the materials needed for successful potty training. Besides the obvious potty seat, investing in good training books for your child will help encourage them.

We recommend keeping one in the bathroom at all times. Books are a great way to keep your toddler occupied, and this will help them stay on the toilet as they’re trying to learn their new skill.

How Interactive Is It?

For books about potty training, the more interactive, the better. Books with lift-the-flaps and buttons that make sounds are usually more exciting for toddlers to interact with.

Flaps are especially beneficial because they can keep your child busier for longer. They’re also good for encouraging curiosity and discovery, two important things for the toddler stage.

Is It Easy to Understand?

Finally, it should be easy for your toddler to understand. When shopping around, ask yourself questions like, “Are the illustrations clear?”

It’s not likely that you’ll read a whole story to them while they sit on the potty. Choosing a book they can enjoy in sections will benefit you.



FAQs

Do Books Help With Potty Training?

Books can help with potty training by making the process more understandable and less intimidating for toddlers. They provide a way to discuss potty training in a fun, relaxed manner.

What is the Most Popular Potty Training Method?

One of the most popular potty-training methods is the “Three-Day Method,” which involves intense focus on potty training over a few days. The child goes without diapers and is encouraged to use the potty regularly.

When Should I Start Reading Potty Training Books?

Start reading potty training books to your child a few weeks or months before you plan to start the potty-training process. This can help them get familiar with the idea.

Is it Better to Potty Train On the Toilet or On a Potty?

Whether to use a toilet or a potty depends on the child’s comfort and confidence. Some prefer a smaller potty at first, while others might like feeling “grown-up” using a toilet with a child seat.

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Edited by

Shannon Serpette

Shannon Serpette is an award-winning writer and editor, who regularly contributes to various newspapers, magazines, and websites. Shannon has been featured on Insider, Fatherly, SheKnows, and other high profile publications. As a mother of two, she loves to write about parenting issues and is dedicated to educating other parents at every stage of their child's development.