The 5 best books about potty training

Potty training is a big step for a toddler. A book helps you introduce the subject calmly: your child sees what happens, and you can talk about it at a moment when nothing has to happen yet.

There are plenty of books about using the potty these days, from well-known toddler classics to a story where your child plays the lead. These are five we like reading together while a child is learning.

1. A personalized book about potty training

You probably saw this one coming.

At BoekjesAtelier you make a book in which your own child learns to use the potty. Your child is in it by name, and the main character actually looks like them. The illustrations are generated by AI from a photo. The stuffed animal that goes everywhere can join the story as a sidekick. Here is how that works: From Favourite Stuffed Animal to Children's Book

What we like most about it is the recognition. Your child watches themselves practice, instead of some other child in a picture book.

You also shape the story. Do you want to show that it goes wrong once and that this is fine? Or that your child first works out what a potty even is? Do you want something funny in there, or a detail only your family will spot? All of that is possible.

A book will not make your child potty trained, of course. It only makes the subject a little more familiar, and that is usually enough.

Nice if: you want a book that fits your child and the way practicing goes in your house.

In our example the dinosaur toy practices on the potty first. After that Sam learns to notice when he needs to go, and proudly does his first wee on the potty. You can page through the whole book at the bottom of this article.

2. Bobbi op het potje

Bobbi is one of those characters most Dutch toddlers already know, from daycare or from a cousin.

In “Bobbi op het potje” the little bear learns how the potty works. Not everything goes right straight away here either: there is an accident, and in the end he manages to stay dry. The story rhymes and is meant for toddlers from about age 2.

Nice if: your child already knows Bobbi, or likes short rhyming stories.

3. Op het potje, with Basje or Lotje

Another classic: “Op het potje” by Alona Frankel.

Basje normally wears a diaper and now gets a potty as well. Getting a wee or a poo exactly into that potty turns out to be harder than it looks. There is also a version in which Lotje learns to use the potty. The book is meant for children from about age 2.

What we like here: the potty is not treated as something obvious. You first have to work out what the thing is and how it works.

Nice if: your child is right at the start and mainly needs to get to know the potty.

4. Mag ik eens in je potje kijken?

Some toddlers mostly want to know how something works. And preferably also what other people do on their potty.

In “Mag ik eens in je potje kijken?” by Guido Van Genechten, a curious little mouse goes investigating. There are flaps to lift, so you can discover what is underneath together. This book is also meant for children from about age 2. That makes it less a step-by-step story about potty training and more a funny way to open the subject up.

Nice if: your child likes lifting flaps and asks questions about everything.

5. Het grote billenboek

If you would rather keep things light, “Het grote billenboek” by Guido Van Genechten is a good one to end on.

All sorts of bottoms appear in the book: big ones, small ones, soft ones, striped ones. The potty shows up eventually too. This book is meant for children from about age 2 as well.

Not every child wants a story that explains exactly what they should do. Sometimes it helps enough that the whole subject just gets a little less serious.

Nice if: your toddler laughs at anything involving bottoms, poo and wee.

Which book fits your child?

The best book about potty training is the one that fits your child. Does your child mainly want to know how things work? Pick a book with flaps. Does your child need something to hold on to? A short, clear story works better.

Whatever you pick, try not to turn it into an exam. Reading together, laughing, answering questions and letting the potty slowly become ordinary is already a start.

Looking for more read-aloud ideas for this age? Have a look at: Our favorite children's books for babies and toddlers. And if you want to know how a personal book comes together, read: What makes a truly personalized children’s book with a photo?