Potty Training Books
Potty training books are read constantly—often twice a day for weeks. Because of that, the most important factor is finding books you can still stand reading on the fortieth time. I've included read-aloud times and re-read scores so you can avoid books that are charming at first but become a chore for you.
- Books on this list
- 8
- Shortest read
- 2.5 minutesPotty
- Longest read
- 6 minutesOnce Upon a Potty
- Three minutes or under
- 1 of 8
Our top picks
PottyAges 2–3 · 2.5 min · 100 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 2.5 minutes
- Words
- 100our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksWith only a few words per page, this book mirrors the actual internal deliberation of a two-year-old. The choice between a diaper and a potty is a significant one at that age, and this book respects that weight.
View the full book page
A Potty for Me!Ages 2–3 · 4 min · 120 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutes
- Words
- 120our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksThe flaps hide the accidents and the successes, making the final flap a physical reward the child performs themselves. Using first-person narration, it helps them say "I did it" out loud, which is the whole point of training.
Worth knowingBecause the paper flaps are fragile, they won't last long if the book is kept in a bathroom near the floor.
View the full book page
P is for Potty!Ages 2–3 · 4 min · 150 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutes
- Words
- 150our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksWith 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.
Worth knowingThis book is really only effective if your child is already a fan of Elmo.
View the full book page
No More Diapers for Ducky!Ages 2–3 · 3.5 min · 187 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutes
- Words
- 187
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksWhen Ducky's friend Piggy is busy on the potty, Ducky’s impatience leads her to try it herself. This focuses on the social motivation of wanting to play, rather than adult-led praise, making it feel very realistic for a toddler.
View the full book page
Everyone PoopsAges 2–4 · 3.5 min · 142 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutes
- Words
- 142our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksIt normalises the subject by starting with animals like elephants and whales. By the time it reaches the child, a resistant toddler has stopped feeling singled out. The one-line pacing makes it perfect for use while sitting on the potty.
Worth knowingSince the book features explicit cartoon drawings of animals defecating, it may be a bit much for some households or become a frequent topic at the dinner table.
View the full book page
Compare every cover and read-aloud time
Open any book for its measurements, parent notes and things worth knowing, right here. Read-aloud times are estimates for an unhurried pace, including time for page-turning and looking at pictures. How Owl and Page estimates read-aloud time.
Book group 1 of 2
Quick reads for the bathroom floor
- PottyAges 2–3 · 2.5 min · 100 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 2.5 minutes
- Words
- 100our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksWith only a few words per page, this book mirrors the actual internal deliberation of a two-year-old. The choice between a diaper and a potty is a significant one at that age, and this book respects that weight.
View the full book page
Dinosaur vs. the PottyAges 2–4 · 3.5 min · 150 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutes
- Words
- 150our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksThe dinosaur roars and insists he doesn't need to go, right up until he does. This allows a child to be loud and defiant for a few pages before watching a character experience the same "climbdown" they might feel.
View the full book page- Everyone PoopsAges 2–4 · 3.5 min · 142 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutes
- Words
- 142our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksIt normalises the subject by starting with animals like elephants and whales. By the time it reaches the child, a resistant toddler has stopped feeling singled out. The one-line pacing makes it perfect for use while sitting on the potty.
Worth knowingSince the book features explicit cartoon drawings of animals defecating, it may be a bit much for some households or become a frequent topic at the dinner table.
View the full book page- No More Diapers for Ducky!Ages 2–3 · 3.5 min · 187 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutes
- Words
- 187
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5survives a fortnight on repeat
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksWhen Ducky's friend Piggy is busy on the potty, Ducky’s impatience leads her to try it herself. This focuses on the social motivation of wanting to play, rather than adult-led praise, making it feel very realistic for a toddler.
View the full book page- A Potty for Me!Ages 2–3 · 4 min · 120 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutes
- Words
- 120our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksThe flaps hide the accidents and the successes, making the final flap a physical reward the child performs themselves. Using first-person narration, it helps them say "I did it" out loud, which is the whole point of training.
Worth knowingBecause the paper flaps are fragile, they won't last long if the book is kept in a bathroom near the floor.
View the full book page- P is for Potty!Ages 2–3 · 4 min · 150 wordsView full book page
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutes
- Words
- 150our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 1/5plain words
- Age range
- 2–3
Book features repeated refrain · join-in questions
Why it worksWith 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.
Worth knowingThis book is really only effective if your child is already a fan of Elmo.
View the full book page
Book group 2 of 2
Longer stories for bedtime reading
Time to Pee!Ages 2–4 · 4 min · 250 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutes
- Words
- 250our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 1
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features repeated refrain
Why it worksA crew of encouraging mice use placards to create a step-by-step checklist: notice the feeling, stop, go, wipe, flush, and wash. It turns the process into a manageable routine rather than a story about a "perfect" child.
Worth knowingSince this is designed as an instructional tool, it likely won't see much use once a child is fully potty trained.
View the full book page
Once Upon a PottyAges 2–4 · 6 min · 450 wordsView full book page- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 6 minutes
- Words
- 450our estimate, not a published count
- Sentences a page
- 2
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary
- 2/5everyday words
- Age range
- 2–4
Book features repeated refrain
Why it worksThis book takes a frank approach to toilet training by naming body parts and showing a potty being used as a hat or a watering can before it's used properly. Its plainness helps children see the training process as a gradual progression.
Worth knowingBe sure to check the cover before you buy, as separate "for him" and "for her" editions exist with different text and art. The anatomical drawings are quite frank.
View the full book page
Questions parents ask
- Do potty training books actually help?
- They help explain the concept, not the timing. A book gives a child the words and the sequence of events, which can make the process feel less strange, but no book will make a child ready before they are.
- How many potty books do we need?
- Just one or two. Since these get read on repeat, having a small number of books you can tolerate is better than a huge collection.