SUPER POOPER AND WHIZZ KID

A super-duper primer for that critical toddler milestone, potty training.

Encourage toddlers to embark on that next, great adventure with this practical, funny guide to toilet training. Two masked heroes, a dog and a cat clad in capes and underpants and armed with rolls of toilet paper, teach children what to do “when you need to go #1 or #2. / That’s secret code for pee and poo.” The pastel colors are warm and bright; the anthropomorphized pee drop and poo pile are instantly recognizable and, well, kind of cute. Our protagonists learn to recognize the signals (“a rumble in my bumble…or a dance in my pants”—here the “pee-pee dance” is lovingly, hilariously rendered) and act fast. They race to the toilet, pull down their pants, sit down and wait (“the hardest part”). But good things come to those who wait (“Like lollipops! And gold stars! And big hugs!”), so caregivers should be prepared to deliver when the mission is accomplished. Once kids master pooping and peeing in the potty, the super duo assures them, “Your parents will be so proud! / Because who doesn’t want a superhero in the family? // And you’ll earn Big Boy and Big Girl underpants!” Jubilation and wonderfully bad bathroom puns ensue, followed by reminders to wipe, flush, and wash those hands with soap.

A direct and uproarious way to start a critical conversation.