It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday. Here’s my selection:
All By Myself!
Written and Illustrated by Émile Jadoul
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2012
Fiction
Suitable for: Ages 2 and up
Topics/Themes: Independence, Potty Training, Trying things on your own
Opening Line: Every night, it’s the same. (How’s that for a line that makes you want to turn the page!)
Synopsis from Amazon: 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!
Link to Resources: We often talk about being big as we navigate potty training and growing up in our house. This story gives children an example of something they can try on their own without Mommy or Daddy’s help. Parents can talk about how Leon decides to do something on his own. Ask your child what he or she would like to do independently. This blog post talks about how children in Costa Rica learn some independence. This Parents.com article talks about Flying Solo: Raise an Independent Kid.
Why I like this book: Enzo saw this on the library shelf and declared: “This is my favorite book.” He liked the penguins. I loved the subject matter. The illustrations are simple and lovely. The Mommy and Daddy penguins are perfect in their tired state. Little Leon with his teddy bear is precious.
A child’s effort to be a “big boy” or “big girl” is nothing new, but this book offers a cute twist to the topic. When I searched for this book, I found two older books with the same title.
For more PPBF selections, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
This looks terrific, Stacy! I’m so glad you’ve added a quality book in the potty-training department – many of them are so preachy and this one looks like an engaging story with a lovable character – he’s so cute I can see why Enzo loves the penguins 🙂
It really is Susanna. Not preachy at all.
I’ll bet my penguin-obsessed toddler would have liked this one too!
Wonder if they see the similarities in the short-legged waddling walk between a penguin and themselves?
Great recommendation Stacy.
I really loved this one too Cathy!
There is a Little Critter of the same name and I thought this always going to be that one but it’s not. I just love the cover with the penguin on the potty! It sounds like a terrific book too. I sure wish it was around 14+ years ago. My older son could read before the age of 2 and refused to potty-train until he was 4. I used to lament to friends that he will be the only kid attending college in diapers! 😛
I have made this observation (about college) too. Mine can’t read yet, but he’s pushing toward the 4 to be 100 percent trained.
Books like this make me grateful that my son is long past the potty training stage.
Now it’s all about poop humor. And I approve.
I’m sure we’ll be having poop humor 24/7 soon too.
Fun and cute. Independence is great, especially even in the middle of the night!
We’re still waiting for this to happen in our house!
What a fun book that encourages independence! I can see why Enzo loves it. Such a cute story for young ones.
Patricia, It is really perfect in many different ways.
A true story: When I was pregnant with my second, everytime we passed a section of woods going to my sister in law’s he said there was the baby penguins’s house. he thought my upcoming baby was a baby penguin for some reason I never found out. He was two going on three and he had a vivid imagination. never the less he loved the real baby once he was born.
I must get this book for him. 🙂
A penguin for a sibling … that sounds like an excellent idea.
What a cutey-patootey on the cover!
Cutey-patootey … I totally agree.
Oh – my – this is perfect timing, Stacy…Grandblessing #3 is 2 and starting potty training. I will definitely look for this!
As a parent, I giggled a lot in this short text.
Adorable! Love the egg shaped illustrations.
The illustrations are very nice.
This sounds cute! I love the penguin! 🙂
We love the penguin too Erik.
The illo of the penguin on the potty made me chuckle! How’d he get up there without a step stool? LOL
Wendy, Kids (or penguins) don’t need step stools when they are determine. LOL
I love that cover!!!!
You’ll enjoy it all.
A needed book in a tasteful format. I can’t wait to look through this one. He is SOOO cute! Thanks.
It is told in a very fun way.
I have some nieces and nephews that would probably love this book as they are nearing the potty training phase with their little ones. Nice book to add to the list, Stacy. And that cover is adorable!
The art is adorable. The parents would really like this one.