The Potty Train

by David Hochman, Ruth Kennison, Derek Anderson (Illustrator)

The Potty Train is coming! All aboard!

Time to say good-bye to diapers and take the journey to Underpants Station.

Are you ready? Let's chug away on the Potty Train!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Trains, Transport, Humor, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2008

Reviews

[Findlay Pennekamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, when my mom and dad first looked through this book, they dismissed is as "all title." And while I will admit that much of it is pretty thin, the metaphors are mixed, and the author seems to imply that giraffes should be ashamed when wet the bed, it does all lead to a moment of beautiful transcendence when the little boy is finally ready to poop on the potty and the train whistle says...

"Chugga-chugga-POO-POO!"

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate this book. One of the children at my clinical placement this semester loves it. I've read it approximately 9 million times, and if I have to say the words "chugga chugga POO POO!" one more time I'm going to lose it.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just plain fun. Whether it’s the page that says “sometimes you just sit and wait and sit and wait” or the climatic “Chugga Chugga Poo Poo!” part, I love bringing the Potty Train to life. That said, if extended potty jokes are not your thing, this book is probably not for your family, and you may want to loosen up a bit.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHUGGA CHUGGA POO POO! Yes - that is the sound the Potty Train makes! I have never been a parent, but my friends who are tell me that this is one of the most challenging things to have to deal with! Lots of frustrating days trying to learn new behavior. This book may be on the right 'track' to helping get this done - sorry, that is so bad!

[Carissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's too vague to be of good use.

[Charity Dušíková · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a muddled collection of train and potty training metaphors. There is no clear message about potty training. Its appeal to my children is the presence of the train and nothing more. Personally I find the ecstatic look on the boy's face (as he sails through the air) having defecated disturbing. If you're looking for a book to help explain concepts of going potty to your child, this one is too convoluted to be helpful. Try Potty by Leslie Patricelli instead.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has worked with kids pre-potty training and of potty training ages, I really shouldn't be weirded-out by this book, but I still am. I don't know how helpful it is in getting kiddos through that horrible stage, but I sure hope it's worth the discomfort of reading it.

Also, all the bad things happen to that poor giraffe and I think that's unfair.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great omg. Perfect for potty storytime :)

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if this would be THE book to make the potty training difference, but paying attention to the details will help. Chugga, chugga, poooo-poooooooo!

[Kyle Chalamet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the themes

[Ariell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little abstract I am not sure my kids got it.

[Brittany Putzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG my boys loved this book while we were potty training

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for Potty books, thought this might connect with SS who loves Trains (which 50% of the time he calls Thomases). The giraffe makes me laugh. And it covers basics in a quick, easy way.

2/25/18 Two weekends of reading this at naptimes and bedtimes, he is a fan. His sister liked picking it out for him, but he was choosing it himself once or twice. And both he and SD love saying "Chugga Chugga Poo Poo!" With books and 3 DVDs, he is at least getting the concept of pooping in the potty, as he exclaimed that the other day when I changed him in a restroom and he heard the sound of another person urinating. Baby steps. Or should I say Toddler Steps? I'm still not going to push him, but the idea/concept is there now.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to potty train my almost three year old, he loves trains, but this book is only so so. It would be better if it rhymed.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see how some kids would laugh at this book and enjoy it, but it doesn’t really teach about going to the bathroom. It is a cute intro book to potty time I guess.

[Colorado Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

an ok book about using the potty. does not rhyme. but it's for someone getting ready to potty train. Pretty cute. Might recommend to parents doing pottytraining.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even my toddler was indifferent to this one.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I found it confusing to read for potty training, but my 2 year old liked it cuz of having a train

[Brigid Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars simply for bringing the phrase chugs chugs poi poo into my life. I mean this positively.

[Ashley Bonifield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastically funny, but sadly a little too vague for a 2yr old to really put it to good use.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure, it's sloppy and inconsistent, but it does have one of the best lines in all of literature.

[Arin Brutlag · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know tighty whities are the standard for underwear pictures, but the design was so similar that my kiddos thought that the characters were still wearing diapers.

[Lorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny/cute way to encourage a train obsessed child to potty train.

My son loved the book, we used it to encourage his potty training specifically the going poop in the potty (that was our issue). He loved to go Chugga Chugga POOP POOP! when he went potty.

I would totally recommend it to anyone with a boy battling the potty training.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The little boy is learning to potty train. In the book, he rides the potty train. During his journey, he meets many obstacles along the way (being wet, not able to go, etc), but he persists in trying. Finally, he able to go in the potty.

With its colorful images, this book is certainly an attractive book for young ones ages one to four. I would recommend this for anyone with a little one.

[Pamela Hubbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this because the illustrations looked hilarious (animals on potties in a train....so cute) and my daughter loves animals and anything silly. The story was cute but I thought it could have been so much more! It would have been easy to play up the silliness and it could have included more basics about potty training for the little ones reading it.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a clever fun book to read aloud to children! We read it at the library storytime...and the children wanted us to re-read it. Positive fun way to reinforce potty training. Chuga-chuga-pooh-pooh!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chugga Chugga Pooo Pooooooooo!

Do I really need to say more? We love this book. Why didn't I think of this? Really? The Potty Train...a fiction book for tots about potty training. Geez. Brilliance comes in all shapes and sizes.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, guess what we'll be doing soon? Uh-huh, wish me luck. Not sure if other kids would love it, but gotta give the author snaps for picking the right theme for my train-iac child. It was a hit at our house.

[Karli Schram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you potty-training??? Look no further! This book is so clever and will work wonders when potty-training your child. It depicts the realities of potty-training, as there will be some setbacks. I definitely recommend!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's time for Ozman to learn the potty business. What better book for this trainhound than The Potty Train? He is obsessed with this book. We're gonna have to get our own copy, lol. It is pretty funny and enjoyable. We've read it every night since we got it from the library.