Top 11 Books to Help With Potty Training In Your Classroom
Finding a potty training resource that works in a busy classroom with 8, 12, or 20 kids is hard. You need something that:
Engages kids without overwhelming them with shame or pressure
Works for a wide range of ages and readiness levels
Can be used with the whole group or one-on-one
Doesn't create anxiety or performance pressure
Actually teaches kids what their bodies are doing
As an mom, early intervention specialist supporting child care providers regularly, and a former in-home child care owner, I know firsthand: Potty training at school can be one of the biggest stress points for parents and teachers once a child enters toddlerhood.
One of the best tools for teaching and preparing young children is books! Stories help little ones make sense of new routines, see characters they can relate to, and build confidence away from the bathroom in a safe and silly place.
Read why these 11 books make our list of potty training books to add to your early childhood classroom library.
1. Potty by Leslie Patricelli is perfect for that first introduction to potty training. The character explores the potty decision making process and observes how others (like the family cat and dog) go potty.
This book makes the list because:
It’s mainly told in pictures- allowing you to add your own words and potty vocabulary that fits your school!
When there are words, they are simple- making it easy for young toddlers to understand.
The illustrations are bold, clear, and add some humor!
2. Potty Time with Pete the Kitty walks toddlers through the complete potty process, from recognizing the need to go to washing hands, and ends with various rewards like a high five, a check on a chart, or a sticker.
This book makes the list because:
All the lift a flaps! Every child will be able to have a turn lifting a flap.
The language! It’s simple so all children will understand the story (plus I love the use of location and direction words!)
They use a real potty with a potty seat over. This is great as many child cares are not able to use a potty chair.
The ending with multiple rewards is perfect for group care. Some providers use a high five and others like to give each child a sticker- this normalizes that and gives you an opportunity to talk more about using/not using rewards. (Read more about rewards in this blog!)
3. Potty Patrol (PAW Patrol) follows girl / boy twins learning to use the potty. It specifically talks about being brave when you feal scared of the bathroom.
This book makes the list because:
Many toddlers and preschoolers love PAW Patrol so we can learn into their favorite characters!
During and after reading you can talk about your bathroom sounds, sights, or smells and why it might feel a little scary but your class can be brave like PAW Patrol!
4. Lets Go To The Potty: A Potty Training Book by Allison Jandu walks kids through each step in the potty process from recognizing a rumble in your body, to asking a grown up for help, to sitting on the potty.
This book makes the list because:
It includes a song that can be perfect to sing while kids are sitting on the potty or add to your transition to the bathroom!
It shows different potties- perfect for child cares that may not use a standard toilet or may have regulations against a potty training potty.
The normalization that sometimes nothing comes out, other times it might come out and surprise you, and sometimes you might have accidents.
5. Peek-a-Poo: I can potty and so can you! is great for toddlers in the beginning stages of potty training. First, the character is still in diapers while becoming familiar with their new potty. The book goes through all the stages of potty training- recognizing the urge to go, telling a grown-up, flushing the toilet and washing their hands.
This book makes the list because:
The illustrations and language are simple, keeping kids interested.
The character is gender neutral which may be something important to you for group care.
6. Where Do You Poop? by Agnese Baruzzi is every toddlers dream. Pull-the-flap and reveal the animal pooping! The book ends with a little boy pooping on the potty.
This book makes the list because:
The pull-the-flap makes the book interactive- remember, a child’s attention goes where their hands go so keep those little hands busy during book reading!
The rhyming structure is great for phonological awareness too!
If you’re doing an animal theme or unit study- you can use this book there too and talk all about habitats.
7. Ms. Rachel and Bean go through the potty journey with special attention to the interoceptive system or being aware of when your body needs to pee or poop (If you want to learn more about the interoceptive system- read this blog!).
This book makes the list because:
Some of your kids may have seen Ms. Rachel and Bean, giving them some prior knowledge and context.
The language and pictures are simple so all children will understand the story.
It normalizes accidents, which are going to happen!
8. The Potty Train by David Hochman is great for mixed ages as this book is not very “direct” as far as using the potty and there are lots of train metaphors that your younger toddlers will likely need more explaining but your older kiddos will enjoy connecting to.
This book makes the list because:
The "chugga chugga poo poo!" could easily be added to transitions and makes a perfect verbal routine!
For your train loving kids, they will love this book!
9. Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi uses simple text and pictures to show how and where animals and humans poop which normalizes bodily functions.
This book makes the list because:
It talks about poop in a straight forward way- no “yuck” “gross” “stinky”
It has a picture of an adult, child, and baby pooping, great for mixed ages care!
10. My Thomas Potty Book (Thomas & Friends) is another great book for train lovers! This book is perfect for mixed ages as there is more text than many of the other books on this list.
This book makes the list because:
The illustrations consist of real pictures, not a cartoon child or animal
It shows kids sitting on all different types of potties and wearing different undies.
It normalizes that accidents will happen and addresses it in a neutral, non-shaming way!
11. P is for Potty Sesame Street is left a flap book about Elmo learning to use the potty just like his cousin does. It goes through the potty sequence of going potty after lunch, wiping, and washing hands.
This book makes the list because:
It has 30 flaps to lift to keep your toddlers busy while reading but has more text and an actual story line for your older kiddos- perfect for mixed ages!
Elmo has an accident while playing and both his cousin and Mom normalize that it’s no big deal and accidents happen when you learn new things.
The illustrations actually look more like a child care than a home so you could easily switch out “home”, “mom”, and “cousin” for your child care name, your name, and friends- making it more relatable!
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Potty training is a journey filled with patience, encouragement, and lots of teamwork between you, the child, and their families. Books are a great tool you can use to support children in potty training away from the actual bathroom!
