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All by Myself!
Sometimes Leon wakes up in the middle of the night because he has to go potty. "Mommy!!" he cries, and Mommy Penguin rushes to help him. "Daddy!!" he calls, and Daddy Penguin comes to his aid. But when Leon discovers that grown-ups use the bathroom all by themselves, he decides that he can too -- all by himself!This adorable book will delight young readers and parents alike -- children, with its charming humor and cute illustrations, and parents, with its lessons about independence and growing up.Watch the trailer:
26 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 14, 2012
Leon is potty trained, but at night he still wants his parents to help him get to the bathroom. So when he has to use the bathroom, he calls to his parents from his bed and waits for them to take him to the potty. Then the next morning, his parents are exhausted. So his mommy tells him that big boys go to the potty by themselves at night. Leon decides to try it. So that night when he has to use the potty, he climbs out of bed. He considers calling his mother…but ends up going all by himself! Then comes the clever bit at the end that I won’t spoil, but that makes the book all the more enjoyable to read.
Read the rest of my review on my blog, Waking Brain Cells.
Read the rest of my review on my blog, Waking Brain Cells.
January 19, 2013
This cracked me up. This wee penguin is pretty much potty-trained (alliteration!), except that he calls for his parents whenever he has to go. They're suffering from sleep deprivation and finally mommy penguin addresses the issue. Although her baby is a little nervous about going on his own, he DOES it! And is so excited he wakes up everyone else in their igloo to TELL them about it!
Will the potty-trainees get the funny here? I don't know. But parents sure will. The penguin illustrations are adorable and you will be AMAZED by the interior of the igloo. It's much bigger than you'd expect from the outside. Must be made with the same magic as those traveling tents in Harry Potter.
Will the potty-trainees get the funny here? I don't know. But parents sure will. The penguin illustrations are adorable and you will be AMAZED by the interior of the igloo. It's much bigger than you'd expect from the outside. Must be made with the same magic as those traveling tents in Harry Potter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2019
As a parent, this absolutely cracked me up; the sheer exhaustion in all the pictures of the parents (THERE is NOT enough coffee in the WORLD!) and the use of the phrase "very, very tired." Note: not just "tired" and not just "very tired" but "very, very tired."
This is awesome. If you are a parent, and if you have had those late, late nights that make you very, very tired (for whatever reason) then you will relate. Somehow, bless his little penguin heart, Leon bounces through the book with energy to spare; you can practically feel it vibrating off him in the pencil and oil illustrations. I love the sweetness of this book, and how I can totally relate to this family.
This is awesome. If you are a parent, and if you have had those late, late nights that make you very, very tired (for whatever reason) then you will relate. Somehow, bless his little penguin heart, Leon bounces through the book with energy to spare; you can practically feel it vibrating off him in the pencil and oil illustrations. I love the sweetness of this book, and how I can totally relate to this family.
March 8, 2019
Cute book about Leon, a penguin who needs to learn how to use the bathroom by himself overnight. His parents are very tired from having to wake up every night to bring him to the batrhoom.
My son really liked this book. Before we ever even read it, he was looking through it and read a line by himself that he had never read before: "go back to bed." Very impressive for a brand new 4 year old!
The illustrations were very cute and whimsical. They looked to be done in crayon and had imperfections, which I thought was sweet.
The words were simple and great for a beginning reader.
My son really liked this book. Before we ever even read it, he was looking through it and read a line by himself that he had never read before: "go back to bed." Very impressive for a brand new 4 year old!
The illustrations were very cute and whimsical. They looked to be done in crayon and had imperfections, which I thought was sweet.
The words were simple and great for a beginning reader.
March 30, 2019
Leon wakes his parents when he needs to potty at night but his parents are tired every morning and tell him that "big boys" go potty by themselves at night. The next night Leon thinks about calling for his parents but decides to go all by himself. Then he immediately wakes his parents to tell them how big he is for going by himself. This book is written for parents, not children. I didn't like it.
April 23, 2019
4 stars
This is a sweet picture book about a toddler penguin who gains the courage to use the potty all by himself at night. It starts with him going accompanied by a parent, and then works up to him trying by himself. It has a cute ending, with him waking up his parents anyway…. but this time in celebration.
- Miss Emily
This is a sweet picture book about a toddler penguin who gains the courage to use the potty all by himself at night. It starts with him going accompanied by a parent, and then works up to him trying by himself. It has a cute ending, with him waking up his parents anyway…. but this time in celebration.
- Miss Emily
March 24, 2018
A part of potty training that SS is not even near. But I smiled at a couple of places--especially the end. This may come in handy when he is using the toilet, but having trouble going at night by himself.
January 19, 2023
Read this with the youngest. Great for her to see how much she's grown as she has been able to "go potty" in the middle of the night for ages. Funny illustrations - the final one of awakened Mummy & Daddy penguin especially. I wish I'd know about it when we were training said little one...
November 10, 2024
Three stars only because it's so niche. The illustrations are so cute, the story is short and easy to understand, and my toddler loves it. But the point is to help kids who wake their parents up multiple times a night to go potty. It teaches kids that they can just go on their own. Super specific!
August 29, 2017
Baaahaha!!
April 30, 2018
Great book to encourage kids to go to the potty when they wake up at night.
June 19, 2022
Five stars, because I relate to the parents in this book. Hubby and I both got a good laugh!
April 19, 2025
C'est drôle, c'est facile à lire, et ça plaît a tout le monde, de 2 ans à 99 ans.
August 22, 2012
140 miles north of my home is a publisher with some fantastic books. I try to bring them to you every chance I get, and today is one of those times. I am so happy to bring you All By Myself by Emile Jadoul, published by Eerdman Books for Young Readers.
Every night, it’s the same.
Leon wakes up.
He has to use the bathroom.
So Leon calls to his mom:
“Mommy, I need to go potty!”
Leon is a young penguin who is tiring out his mother with his late night call for help. Every morning she awakes nearly as tired as when she went to sleep.
Leon sometimes needs to go potty twice a night. When that happens, his daddy answers his call for help. The next morning, both mommy and daddy are tired from lack of sleep.
Leon needs to learn to go potty by himself.
I really like this book for young children. Learning to use the potty is hard and many books detail the struggles children have learning this essential skill. I have not seen a book about getting out of bed and going potty, all without the need of mom or dad, or anyone else.
The illustrations are wonderful. The story of Leon will please young children. I think it can also encourage them to dig deep and find the courage to go potty without anyone needing anyone’s help.
The surprise ending is so good children, and their parents, will roar after reading what happens with Leon. All By Myself will delight parents, who will not mind reading this charmer night after night. The story eases children into deciding they are ready to potty at night without the help of mom or dad.
I like how the book uses humor to get a message across to children. They will laugh but also think about following Leon’s actions. Any parent trying to get their child to get out of bed and go potty, without waking anyone up, will love this book. The illustrations are simplistic yet cute, and they do not overpower the goal of the story.
book courtesy of the publisher, Eerdman Books for Young Readers
Originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews:
http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2012/08/03...
Every night, it’s the same.
Leon wakes up.
He has to use the bathroom.
So Leon calls to his mom:
“Mommy, I need to go potty!”
Leon is a young penguin who is tiring out his mother with his late night call for help. Every morning she awakes nearly as tired as when she went to sleep.
Leon sometimes needs to go potty twice a night. When that happens, his daddy answers his call for help. The next morning, both mommy and daddy are tired from lack of sleep.
Leon needs to learn to go potty by himself.
I really like this book for young children. Learning to use the potty is hard and many books detail the struggles children have learning this essential skill. I have not seen a book about getting out of bed and going potty, all without the need of mom or dad, or anyone else.
The illustrations are wonderful. The story of Leon will please young children. I think it can also encourage them to dig deep and find the courage to go potty without anyone needing anyone’s help.
The surprise ending is so good children, and their parents, will roar after reading what happens with Leon. All By Myself will delight parents, who will not mind reading this charmer night after night. The story eases children into deciding they are ready to potty at night without the help of mom or dad.
I like how the book uses humor to get a message across to children. They will laugh but also think about following Leon’s actions. Any parent trying to get their child to get out of bed and go potty, without waking anyone up, will love this book. The illustrations are simplistic yet cute, and they do not overpower the goal of the story.
book courtesy of the publisher, Eerdman Books for Young Readers
Originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews:
http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2012/08/03...
August 1, 2012
Potty training can be difficult, especially at night. A little penguin named Leon takes on the challenge of getting through the night without waking his parents because he has to use the potty. After several tries, he might finally be able to get the job done.
Very basic story with some cute pictures of the penguin family. It is a cute story, so very simple and basic that it doesn't have anything unique to recommend it. The large print makes it easier to read and show at the same time. Simple words if young kids want to practice their reading even after the potty training is over. I received this advance copy from LibraryThing (yeah - thanks)
Very basic story with some cute pictures of the penguin family. It is a cute story, so very simple and basic that it doesn't have anything unique to recommend it. The large print makes it easier to read and show at the same time. Simple words if young kids want to practice their reading even after the potty training is over. I received this advance copy from LibraryThing (yeah - thanks)
January 18, 2014
This is a sweet tale about a young penguin named Leon who needs the reassurance of his parents when he gets up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The narrative is short and young children will be able to relate to the little penguin. The illustrations are cartoonish and young Leon is adorable. This book is perfect for a bedtime story.
Read
March 24, 2016Leon, the penguin, lives in an igloo. He has to go potty in the middle of the night, so his parents are very tired. His mother encourages him to go potty on his own. He does so, and then wakes up his parents to tell them.
Age: 1+
Practice: Talk (Young children can relate to this "accomplishment" and will engage in discussion about the story line.?
Age: 1+
Practice: Talk (Young children can relate to this "accomplishment" and will engage in discussion about the story line.?
April 11, 2024
This book captures so well the mental exhaustion of parents who are waken up multiple times a night to help their kid potty training so it's hilarious. A great find to teach your kid to gain confidence about going to the toilet all by themselves.
Read and reviewed 2018-12-05
Read and reviewed 2018-12-05
August 22, 2012
ALL BY MYSELF. Let it ring! Much to the chagrin of his oh-so-very-tired penguin parents.
August 22, 2012
Ahh! It's too cute. I couldn't get over the scribbly, egg-shaped penguin with his little stick legs. So cute your head will explode!
September 2, 2012
Simple, sweet book about going potty alone. Not a potty training book, but a good example of kid independence.
January 11, 2013
Really cute that the tired Daddy Penguin has stubble.
February 8, 2013
Especially loved how, in the illustrations, you could tell mommy and daddy were half awake when walking Leon to the bathroom.
February 9, 2013
My brother once did the same thing. "Mom, I didn't flush the toilet because I didn't want to wake you up, okay?"
October 30, 2013
This is a fun book to introduce to little ones who are learning to go potty on his/her own. I love the ending! It's funny! Definitely adding it to my Parenting collection.
June 2, 2015
Great story about going potty all by oneself. And the ending was just so...realistic.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews