P is for Potty!
With over thirty flaps and the help of Elmo, this book is designed to keep a wriggler occupied on the potty. For children who already trust Elmo, his authority can be more effective than parental encouragement.
P is for Potty! by Naomi Kleinberg is estimated to take about 4 minutes to read aloud (150 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 2-3.
Check the book on AmazonAffiliate link
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 150Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary level
- 1/5plain words
- Best for
- Ages 2-3Our editorial fit
Our review
The high number of flaps is perfect for the "restless" phase of potty training. It provides enough tactile interaction to keep a child sitting long enough to actually finish the task.
It relies heavily on the existing bond a child has with the character. If they are an Elmo fan, the motivation to follow his lead is much stronger.
Before you buy it
This book is really only effective if your child is already a fan of Elmo.
Themes
- toilet
- elmo
- flaps
- routine
Books like P is for Potty!
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read P is for Potty! aloud?
About 4 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 150. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is P is for Potty! actually for?
Ages 2-3 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 1 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does P is for Potty! survive being read on repeat?
Yes, reasonably. It stays bearable through the repeat-request phase without becoming a favourite forever.
Is P is for Potty! a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise P is for Potty!?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 3 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read P is for Potty! on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (1 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
Is P is for Potty! part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Sesame Street series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does P is for Potty! cover?
We tag it with toilet, elmo, flaps and routine. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
