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Time to...
Time to Pee!
Toilet training has never been such an adventure as when it is introduced by popular cartoonist Mo Willems. With his signature humor, the author gently leads children through each step in the process that will finally bring them to their emancipation from diapers. Featuring a crew of funny mice holding up signs with the text, children will be amused and inspired by this hilarious new picture book.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2003
10 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
About the author
Mo Willems
231 books4,113 followers#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems is best known for his Caldecott Honor winning picture books Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo “the biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo’s work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network’s Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
February 25, 2019
I can understand and I can relate with desperate parents who think that their children may never learn how to use the toilet.
If you are one of them, I can assure you that they will definitely learn how to use it. It is natural instinct. At some point, they will be sick and tired of their diapers.
To be honest, when I started potty training for my children, I have never searched books for advice. But this book is so incredibly funny! We actually read it after my children learned how to be independent when they need to go to the toilet, but we loved it.
The illustrations are top notch.
If you are one of them, I can assure you that they will definitely learn how to use it. It is natural instinct. At some point, they will be sick and tired of their diapers.
To be honest, when I started potty training for my children, I have never searched books for advice. But this book is so incredibly funny! We actually read it after my children learned how to be independent when they need to go to the toilet, but we loved it.
The illustrations are top notch.
December 21, 2014
Hey, there has to be a children’s book that teaches children how to use the bathroom, am I right?
Now, it is rare that I read children’s books that teach children how to use the bathroom, but I never would have thought that I would read a children’s book about using the toilet written by Mo Willems! “Time to Pee!” is a companion book to Mo Willems’ “Time to Say Please!” book and it is another book that teaches young children about how to do certain things (in this case, teaching children how to use the bathroom), while starring everyone’s favorite blue mice!
This book teaches young children how to use the toilet whenever they need to go to the bathroom and the blue mice as usual try to help out the children in learning how to use the toilet by taking them through each step slowly and holding up signs to encourage the children.
Once again, Mo Willems has created another brilliant installment in his “Time to” series and I enjoyed this book as much as I did for “Time to Say Please!” I really loved the fact that Mo Willems tackles a subject that is often taboo for children’s books, which is teaching children how to use the toilet when they need to go to the bathroom. It really made this book stand out from the other children’s books I have read that deal with unique topics such as toilet training and I really loved the way that Mo Willems takes each step of potty training slowly as it truly does help children learn how to use the toilet. Mo Willems’ illustrations are as usual funny and cute to look at, especially of the numerous blue mice showing up in the images, providing signs that would help out the children in their potty training while doing random activities like dancing in the background.
Overall, “Time to Pee” is a fantastic companion book to “Time to Say Please!” that children who are also going through potty training can read to learn how to use the toilet correctly. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since the story is easy enough to help small children with their potty training.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
September 18, 2013
Our family are big Mo Willems fans, however, this one was a little slow. My 3 yr old twins, who are currently potty training, liked the book and could follow a long, but there were some words they didn't quite understand so sometimes it wasn't as engaging as it could of been. The mice doing various fun things didn't really hold their attention either, and I, who aren't usually bothered by mice, was a little creeped out by the tons of mice all over the bathroom. A great idea, but Willems just doesn't quite pull it off like his other books.
April 28, 2025
This got a little too informative about the differences between boys and girls for me. Not graphic, mind you.
December 6, 2011
This is such a fun book for young kids. It talks in depth about why it is good to be potty trained. There are many parents today that send their kids to school to be raised. They do nothing at home and they expect the teachers to do everything, including potty training their children. This book would be a good way to open up the subject of how to go to the bathroom. It would also make it less awkward for students who were mebarassed by their situation. On another note, this book would also be good for parents that are taking an active role in raising their children. Reading this book to young children will excite them about going to the bathroom. It will make the weird potty training stage a little more fun. The pictures match the text perectly, and everything is shown in a upbeat and fun light. This book is one of my all time favorites!
August 25, 2007
The only thing we didn't like about this book is that is says "boys can stand and girls should sit". This was a little confusing for Carson because we are teaching him to sit first. Cute book!
October 23, 2013
Time to Pee! by Mo Willems, published 2003.
Nonfiction.
Picture book.
Pre-K.
Found via Horn Book Magazine, reviewed by Kitty Flynn.
This book encourages children in the middle of potty training. With parades of mice holding ridiculous balloons and banners, the book coaches children on the steps involved in going to the bathroom and reassures them that they will still be able to play when they are done. This book has little use outside of helping with potty training, but its encouraging tone and funny illustrations are sure to make children feel better during this process. Reviewer Flynn says that "[t]he point might get lost in all the hoopla, but luckily it's one that will bear repeating in the inevitable encore readings." This book is suitable for all audiences and attempts to present a diverse group of children.
Nonfiction.
Picture book.
Pre-K.
Found via Horn Book Magazine, reviewed by Kitty Flynn.
This book encourages children in the middle of potty training. With parades of mice holding ridiculous balloons and banners, the book coaches children on the steps involved in going to the bathroom and reassures them that they will still be able to play when they are done. This book has little use outside of helping with potty training, but its encouraging tone and funny illustrations are sure to make children feel better during this process. Reviewer Flynn says that "[t]he point might get lost in all the hoopla, but luckily it's one that will bear repeating in the inevitable encore readings." This book is suitable for all audiences and attempts to present a diverse group of children.
February 9, 2015
This is a book that is for kids in the process of toilet training and their caregivers. I can't judge its effectiveness; the cats didn't pee on me while I read it, and I think Zelda wandered off to the litter box, so maybe it was inspiring?
July 8, 2015
3.5 stars
Read
February 10, 2013Darby,I read this book to my brother and trust me it is not fun
August 1, 2022
Of course this book is great!
July 8, 2020
Time to Pee! Board Book by Mo Willlems. BOARD BOOK. Hyperion Books for Children, 2020. $8. 9781368047661
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Time to Pee! Board Book is “the go-to book when you’ve got to go!” Mo Willems brings is the perfect book to help explain and calm children as they begin the potty training phase of life. “If you ever get that funny feeling…don’t panic! Don’t fret! And please don’t ignore it!” Acting on that feeling is your chance to show how BIG you are! Willems explains that the process doesn’t take long, has rules and manners, and one should always practice good personal hygiene. Each page is filled with eye-catching illustrations accompanied by adorable little mice! The mice help hold sighs, cheer on the participants, and celebrate with band instruments adding to the excitement. The final page gives encouragement by a mouse holding a sign stating: “P.S. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time- you’ll get another chance.”
Time to Pee! Board Book is the perfect addition to any library where parents are potty training a child. The illustrations are simple and fun. The book isn’t wordy but definitely gets all of the steps covered. The addition of the little mice is a treasure. We loved this book and expect that Time to Pee! will be beloved in many homes.
Reviewer: SL
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Time to Pee! Board Book is “the go-to book when you’ve got to go!” Mo Willems brings is the perfect book to help explain and calm children as they begin the potty training phase of life. “If you ever get that funny feeling…don’t panic! Don’t fret! And please don’t ignore it!” Acting on that feeling is your chance to show how BIG you are! Willems explains that the process doesn’t take long, has rules and manners, and one should always practice good personal hygiene. Each page is filled with eye-catching illustrations accompanied by adorable little mice! The mice help hold sighs, cheer on the participants, and celebrate with band instruments adding to the excitement. The final page gives encouragement by a mouse holding a sign stating: “P.S. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time- you’ll get another chance.”
Time to Pee! Board Book is the perfect addition to any library where parents are potty training a child. The illustrations are simple and fun. The book isn’t wordy but definitely gets all of the steps covered. The addition of the little mice is a treasure. We loved this book and expect that Time to Pee! will be beloved in many homes.
Reviewer: SL
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
December 17, 2017
From the author of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and the Elephant & Piggie series, Time to Pee! is rife with classic Mo Willems wit.
A pack of mice carrying a little sign for each word in the text gives the story a sense of cheerleading. (It also makes each word stand out in a really great way that is ideal for sight word practice.) The plot is simple: a child gets "that funny feeling" and is admonished not to "panic, fret, or ignore it." The child goes into the bathroom and the sequence of pottying steps is gone over in a cheery, reassuring way.
The sequencing is perhaps a bit too specific. The lid does not always need to be lifted. And telling boys that they may stand to pee while girls should sit is confusing in that a lot of boys, particularly those with developmental disabilities (although not all, to be sure), learn to pee sitting down. The may is meant to cover this, but the gender segmenting is bound to cause some confusion.
I really like that the phrase "Time to pee!" is the title. It works as a mand (something that a child can use as a script for when they need to ask for the bathroom). It's also really nice that the social story aspect of this deals with the very universal issue of not wanting to stop playing. The story doesn't end with the toilet flush, it ends with a child happily returning to their toys, which are exactly as she left them.
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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post about great picture books to read while potty training: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/potty-b...
A pack of mice carrying a little sign for each word in the text gives the story a sense of cheerleading. (It also makes each word stand out in a really great way that is ideal for sight word practice.) The plot is simple: a child gets "that funny feeling" and is admonished not to "panic, fret, or ignore it." The child goes into the bathroom and the sequence of pottying steps is gone over in a cheery, reassuring way.
The sequencing is perhaps a bit too specific. The lid does not always need to be lifted. And telling boys that they may stand to pee while girls should sit is confusing in that a lot of boys, particularly those with developmental disabilities (although not all, to be sure), learn to pee sitting down. The may is meant to cover this, but the gender segmenting is bound to cause some confusion.
I really like that the phrase "Time to pee!" is the title. It works as a mand (something that a child can use as a script for when they need to ask for the bathroom). It's also really nice that the social story aspect of this deals with the very universal issue of not wanting to stop playing. The story doesn't end with the toilet flush, it ends with a child happily returning to their toys, which are exactly as she left them.
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post about great picture books to read while potty training: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/potty-b...
April 28, 2014
I would recommend this book to parents to read to their younger children maybe children that are at the age they will understand what being potty trained means. Parents can guide their children through the book in order to understand when you have to use the restroom you go to the bathroom and not in your pants. I would not recommend this book in the classroom because most students will already be potty trained and it isn’t really needed in a classroom. It could be in the library maybe but I would not have this book in my classroom. The book is a good one for a younger audience and I think the illustrations go along with the words well and young children are able to understand the pictures better than the words. The major theme of this book is if you got to go pee then go to the bathroom.
December 9, 2014
Time to Pee! is a great book. I would definitely recommend this book to parents with young children who are learning how to begin the process of potty training their young ones. This book is not only a gem for the parents but for the child as well, in that is depicts the story of a child learning to use the bathroom and the characteristics of what both the parent and the child’s role will look like throughout the process. I would not recommend this book for the classroom because it may not be appropriate for that setting, but also because by the time most children are in school they will have already been required to be potty trained. This book is great for a young audience, and would also be beneficial for a larger family in maybe passing it down as “the” book for when potty training approaches.
Willems, M. (2003). Time to pee! New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
Willems, M. (2003). Time to pee! New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
May 16, 2009
I'm not a big Mo Willems fan, but I did enjoy this book. (No funny comments, please! Rhu is starting to potty train!!) It is a fanstastic "sitting on the potty" for awhile book. Some of the pictures have a lot to look at, which can keep a kid sitting on the potty for awhile while they try. It isn't big on how-to's or deep explanations, but the straight-forwardness and ease of reading makes it a good book to have on hand.
Helena loved reading it to Rhu so that's a huge plus!! Maybe she can potty train him!
Helena loved reading it to Rhu so that's a huge plus!! Maybe she can potty train him!
August 3, 2015
Great book for potty training! Mice with signs reading "Go! Go!" "You're #1!" encourage boys and girls as they learn to use the toilet. Unlike many potty picture books, it's a real toilet, in a bathroom, not some antique chamber pot in the middle of the room (what's up with that?!). All the steps are followed, from recognizing the urge to pee, leaving your toys, peeing, washing hands, and going back to find your toys just where you left them! The dust jacket includes a potty chart and stickers, too, which is fabulous.
August 9, 2011
Little Miss... "I liked it a lot. Actually I loved it a lot. I loved it so much that it can have all these stars. It has mouses on it and a potty on it. They have to go when they feel that funny feeling."
A good (and slightly less babyish) potty book. Specific but not overly detailed instructions to "please don't ignore it!" and to wipe, flush and wash.
I think this may be the most cheerful potty book I've read. (With the possible exception of Have You Seen My Potty?)
A good (and slightly less babyish) potty book. Specific but not overly detailed instructions to "please don't ignore it!" and to wipe, flush and wash.
I think this may be the most cheerful potty book I've read. (With the possible exception of Have You Seen My Potty?)
October 1, 2011
My son requested this one even though he's been potty trained for several years now. We're Mo Willems fans, though, so we had to read it. It will come in handy when it's my daughter's turn. This one is fun- I'm not sure what about mice carrying signs and banners makes going to the bathroom seem like a party!- and also very accepting of accidents. I've already recommended it to a friend looking for potty training books. At least it makes the prospect of potty training entertaining, which in my experience it never was.
August 3, 2007
I love most of Mo Willems' books for kids anyway, so was delighted to see he's written one about using the potty! This one is exclusively about "#1" - a little early right now to be very useful to us. But it does have a lot of great toilet illustrations (great for kids to see pictures of other kids going potty), and takes you all the way through flushing and washing hands. We'll definitely revisit this one when Charlotte's ready for some more fine-tuned potty education. :)
September 14, 2007
here's the thing, I read "Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!" by Mo and fell in love with his story-telling ability and his sense of humor. these books will surely make you laugh. and I don't have kids.
I goave this as a gift to one of my best friends and my sister-in-law because they were both potty-training toddler's at the same time. I'm not sure if it created miracles, but they both agreed it was a sweet book.
oh yeah, and when I have kids- they're going to have every last one of his books!!!
I goave this as a gift to one of my best friends and my sister-in-law because they were both potty-training toddler's at the same time. I'm not sure if it created miracles, but they both agreed it was a sweet book.
oh yeah, and when I have kids- they're going to have every last one of his books!!!
April 4, 2013
The first time I read this, I nearly peed myself laughing. I don't have children, so I cannot testify as to the effectiveness of the message in this book. However, I have had numerous customers who are potty training their kids that it is straightforward, clear, encouraging, and forgiving. It also features a modern bathroom with features that children will recognize, and a grownup potty as the goal. Mr. Willems has another hit with this nonfiction book in his usual fun, humorous style.
November 30, 2013
This book talks right at children's level, and covers the topic in a light-hearted and non-threatening way. The big party the mice were having at the toilet was wonderful. They chose an interesting approach to the boy/girl question, having a full page with a boy on the left and a girl on the right, and the text ("boys can stand, girls should sit"). I wasn't sure I agreed with those instructions, but at least they covered some possibilities.
March 27, 2012
I want to use this book when I'm teaching my kids to use the toilet! It's helpful, informative, encouraging, and fun. I love the stickers it provides in the back, some stickers even for good try's or oops's! The text is also engaging and written in different ways in different spots of the page. This is a great explanation of using the toilet for kids; wonderful book!
November 13, 2012
Willems provides a cute book on how to potty train oneself. The book explains the steps to take as well as assurances about everything being okay regardless of the outcome. There are adorable mice that appear throughout the book and they work to encourage readers constantly. Willems also provides progress charts which accompany the book. Very cute idea.
December 6, 2012
How reassuring: a story that takes children from the first urge to "go" all the way through the process. I love that we end up back where we started with everything as we left it. No worries about leaving to use the potty...it will all be there when we get back! Friendly reminders about using toilet paper, washing hands, who stands and who sits are all presented in a fun and friendly way.
January 5, 2019
This book is full of the irreverent whimsy of Willems' other books. My main concern is why this family has so many mice hiding in their bathroom. I definitely appreciate the line about the toys still being there when the kid gets back.
Ozman was mostly disappointed that the mouse did not fall in the toilet.
Ozman was mostly disappointed that the mouse did not fall in the toilet.
February 13, 2008
This book illustrates with good humor all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with learning to use the toilet. Reading it with my sort-of-in-underpants, sort-of-in-diapers toddler helped me lighten up a little.
July 15, 2012
This book was recommended by a reader who read books for kids at Border's (when they were still around!).
Both the kids and the parents (us!) enjoy the story and the illustrations.
Now only if my kid follows what's in this book ... *SIGH*
Both the kids and the parents (us!) enjoy the story and the illustrations.
Now only if my kid follows what's in this book ... *SIGH*
July 29, 2014
Adorable illustrations of course and cheerful, upbeat text which gives equal attention to both boys and girls. The book walks your child through a successful bathroom trip. There's a short little note at the end about trying again if you didn't get it the first time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews