Poop or Get Off the Potty!

by Margaret McNamara, Allison Black (Illustrations)

When Mason and Mia were babies, they pooped a lot--always in their diapers.

Now that they're big kids, it's time to use the potty. But what is the potty for?

Naps? NO.

Books? NO.

Playing the drums? No, no, no!

Mason and Mia look ahead to official big-kid territory in this hilarious, instructive story with special emphasis on that momentous toddler milestone: pooping in the potty!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 12, 2019

About the author

Margaret McNamara is the Christopher Award–winning author of more than two dozen books for young readers, including the Robin Hill School series. The Fairy Bell Sisters series is inspired not only by her love of the classic sisterhood novel Little Women but by her own experiences growing up with older sisters (and a baby brother). Margaret and her family live in New York City, but they spend part of their summer on an island in Maine very much like Sheepskerry Island.

Reviews

[julianna ☽]

my supervisor read this entire book from start to finish aloud to me and my other coworker today

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest toddler storytime pick you will ever find. Period.

It's relatable. It's hysterical. It will, without fail, get the room of toddlers and their parents to spontaneously applaud when the poops land RIGHT IN THE POTTY!

Your storytime has never been so engaged. Seriously read it already.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a funny and factual approach to using the potty. As a children's librarian, I know that potty training is a high-demand topic, and I'm excited to recommend it to caregivers!

This book is a great way to talk about the logistics of using the potty, regardless of gender, and makes it clear that using the potty is a BIG accomplishment - it means you are a big kid! The vivid, colorful pictures, word bubbles, and silly action will draw in young readers. I appreciate that it features a multiracial family and that the parents share diaper-changing responsibilities.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent enough potty training title to encourage, well, pooping. Reinforces that the potty is for going potty and that sometimes when you get to the toilet you need to wait because you really do have to go. The best part is that it stars both a boy and a girl. Not a necessity, but not a bad addition if you need some potty training titles.

[Marcela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here on behalf of my two-year old daughter to report that this is a 5-star book, worth reading multiple times a day, every day, and definitely during potty trips.

[Stephanie Fleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my daughter's favorites. So while it says I read it once, multiply that by 100000000.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think these two are twins?

[Michael Rank · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why but seeing these kids taking pooping so seriously really tickled me.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poop or Get Off the Potty! by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Allison Black. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (MacMillan), 2019. $17. 9781250124401

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

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[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toddlers Mason and Mia learn to poop on the potty.

This is a great book to share with a child during toilet training. It specifically addresses pooping in the potty, which can be more of a challenge than peeing in the potty as many caregivers can attest. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the text is simple and humorous. The author's dedication "For everyone who poops" cracked me up.

Another positive point is that the book portrays a high degree of gender equality. Both a male and a female parent are shown changing diapers, and both a boy and a girl are the main characters. A mix of ethnic backgrounds is also represented, making the book inclusive for all young readers.

The one problem I had with the story is that I was unable to determine whether Mason and Mia were twins in the same house or friends have simultaneous experience in different houses. It is unclear if the illustrator is changing the background colors to spotlight different characters or to indicate different settings. As a general rule, the different backgrounds represent a shift in the surroundings. However, the fact that Mia and Mason seem to be talking to one another contradicts this. I checked the verso of the title page hoping that the publisher provided summary would clear this up, but none was given.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lively text and brightly-colored digital illustrations follow two youngsters as they go from pooping in diapers to using their potties when they get older. As is the case for all youngsters, Mia and Mason have spent a great deal of their time pooping. The illustrations show their caretakers having to deal with the results over the years. Once they are given potties, neither child is completely sure what those little chairs are for and they wonder if they are for napping or storing books. Eventually, they figure it out and feel a sense of accomplishment. Caregivers might want to share this reassuring and humorous book with their little ones as they start them on potty training. While this sort of thing might not be cup of tea, it is funny to see their facial expressions and their confusion as well as how proud both youngsters feel as they take one more step toward adulthood.

[Christina Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title certainly made me laugh out loud, in the library no less. I enjoyed the story and the colorful illustrations and the way that the book celebrated doing the do. I borrowed it even though I am so far removed from having littles in my home who are potty training. I do have twins however and even though they are 20 now (and would likely cringe if they knew I was talking about this), my son got right down to the business of potty training, while my daughter did it in her own time. Mason and Mia made me think of my twins and Poop or Get Off the Potty is the sort of book I would've likely gotten for them when they were potty training toddlers. This book makes it clear that poop happens and it is great when it happens on the potty.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mason and Mia have done a lot of pooping in their life - all sorts of poops! Now it's time they did their pooping on the potty. First they have to understand what the potty is for, then they have to learn to wait . . .

An interesting toilet training books, focusing entirely on poop. The most memorable picture? When they are both pooping - not gross or funny about that, the humor is when they are trying different things with their potty. A nice story featuring both a boy and a girl - plus they also remember to wash up and congratulate each other.

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[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potty training books abound. This one deals exclusively in the fecal functions of the human toddler. All well and good so far. But then Mia whispers the book's title to Mason, and there's something uncomfortable about mentally aligning the cutesy version with the much cruder grown-up version of the expression.

I can't tell if this is one family, best friends in different houses, or totally unrelated people who happen to be talking to each other. The illustrations are unclear.

Kids may like it. I, personally, wouldn't want my kids walking around saying this particular title.

[Katelynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure there is a potty training book that will be more “lesson-teaching” for kids and HILARIOUS for grown-ups. (The toddlers probably will be amused too.) This really describes all the woes of diapers, and then jumps into how toddlers use the potty and, tbh, the experience of pooping in a cute and funny way.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My twins are obsessed with this book, which: surprise: also has boy/girl twins in it. My girl goes around the house looking for it, saying "pah-ee". The title and that page in the book is a little weird, but no big. It doesn't go into detail on the "pah-ee" process and only covers poop, but it's a big hit here. Lots of clapping.

Warning: NOT a board book. Ours has at least 4 rips from our 2 yr olds.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia and Mason used to poop a lot in diapers. Now, they are learning to poop in the potty and what the potty is and is not for. A fun book to read to kids working on potty training. The phrase, "I am a big kid now" made me think of Pull-Ups slogan "I'm a big kid now," so I'm wondering if that was intentional?

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about pooping on the potty. I get asked for a lot of potty books so this is a great addition. Plus, I know that pooping on the potty is a big deal for young kids so I like that this book is all about that.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a little surprised by all the good reviews of this one. Both my husband and I disliked it and my toddler wasn't impressed either. Might be good for parents of twins? I thought it was repetitive and kind of silly.

[Leesonia Rutledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute book that illustrate small toddlers taking the next big steps. The illustrations are bold and beautiful. It is a great book for toddlers who is learning to potty train. They also learned what does not go into the potty.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn't go through the entire process, but still pretty good overview for potty-training kiddos. The pictures are really bright and friendly (which is good for kids that have some trepidation about potty training in general)

[Mr. George The Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great. Poop!

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun! As the grandmother of twins ... I loved it!

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are lovely - cute, bright, darling, delightful

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mason goes red in the face...

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Perfect for potty training.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew pooping in the potty was so much fun?

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute book for potty-training kids and the title is just awesome.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! Sweet and funny (which potty training usually is neither). Maybe reading this will help encourage those who are nervous about number two.

[Katrina Clohessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic potty book for parents who are potty-training their children, with cute, bright illustrations. 29 pages