Best Children’s Books for Potty Training (2026): 4 Picks Compared

A toddler who is starting the potty needs a book they will sit still for, so parents and caregivers looking for the best children’s books for potty training can start here. We compared four listings by what each one says about the reader, the length and the format.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Everybody Potties by Birdsong	9.6/10	Buy
2	Potty Patrol by Random House	9.6/10	Buy
3	We Poop on the Potty by Harbison	9.6/10	Buy
4	Potty Training in 3 Days by Brucks	9.3/10	Buy

1

Everybody Potties by Birdsong

Minnie Birdsong·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A song board book with five potty songs set to familiar tunes, for toddlers who enjoy singing along during potty time.

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Pros

• Five potty songs use familiar tunes, which can make the routine feel like a game
• Sturdy, thick board pages, as the description states
• Grade level Preschool and up agrees with the listed reading age

Cons

• Only 10 pages, so it is short for a longer read-aloud
• Reading age is marked as from customers, not stated by the publisher
• A song book rather than a story, so it suits a child who likes music more than plot

2

Potty Patrol by Random House

Random House·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A PAW Patrol board book that walks toddlers through potty training with the show's characters, for ages 1 to 3.

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Pros

• Built on PAW Patrol characters, Marshall and Skye among them
• A sturdy board book of 22 pages, a short read for a toddler
• The description gives ages 1 to 3, a wide range for a first potty book

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers, not stated by the publisher
• No grade level is stated on the listing
• The description leans on the show's characters, so a child who does not know them may not connect

3

We Poop on the Potty by Harbison

Little Grasshopper Books·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A large padded board book with silly animal illustrations about where creatures poop, for toddlers who like humor.

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Pros

• The listing states it won a Mom's Choice Gold Award
• Large padded board book, which suits little hands
• Humor and illustrations for a reader who likes silly books

Cons

• The reading age of 2 to 3 years and grade level up to Kindergarten do not line up
• Reading age is marked as from customers, not stated by the publisher
• Only 16 pages, so it is a quick read rather than a story

4

Potty Training in 3 Days by Brucks

Brandi Brucks·9.3/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A parent guide with a three day plan, readiness checklists and reward scripts, for the adult running the training.

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Pros

• Day-by-day plan and readiness checklists for parents
• Scripts for accidents and naptime transitions, per the description
• At 106 pages, the longest print length of the four picks

Cons

• Written for parents, so it is not a book for a toddler to read
• No reading age is stated on the listing
• The description notes children with developmental delays may need more than this book covers

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More picks to compare

• Potty Time with Bean by Ms. RachelFor toddlers starting the potty, with training tips at the back.Check on Amazon
• Where Do You Poop? by BaruzziFor toddlers, a pull-the-tab book about where animals and people poop.Check on Amazon
• Pottysaurus by Little Hippo BooksFor toddlers who like dinosaurs, with a story about making mistakes and handwashing.Check on Amazon
• Let's Go Potty by Cali's BooksFor toddlers learning each potty step, with a music button on every page.Check on Amazon
• Peek-a-Poo! by ConlonFor toddlers learning each potty step, in rhyming text with padded covers.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. Three of the four picks list a reading age, marked by Amazon as from customers, and two also list a grade level. The parent guide lists neither. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books for potty training

Match the book to the age on the listing

Potty Patrol lists a reading age of 2 to 3 years, and Everybody Potties lists 2+ years, both marked as from customers. For a child a little older than that, see our best children’s books for ages 3 to 5 list.

Choose a song book or a parent plan

Everybody Potties is a song book, while the parent guide is a plan for the adult running a focused few days, so skip it for a bedtime read. Once a child moves past toddler board books, browse our middle grade books for longer reads.

Before you buy

• Check the reading age line, since three of these picks mark it as from customers.
• Check the print length, which runs from 10 pages to 106 pages across these picks.
• Check the publication date, which the parent guide gives as November 15, 2016.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is a potty training book for?

Potty Patrol lists a reading age of 2 to 3 years, marked as from customers, and its description says ages 1 to 3. Use the listed age as a starting point, not a rule.

Which edition should I buy?

Check the edition and publication date on the listing before you buy. The parent guide lists November 15, 2016, so look for a newer version.

Is Potty Patrol a good first potty book?

It suits a child who already knows the PAW Patrol characters, since the description builds the routine around Marshall and Skye. A child who does not know the show may do better with a song or rhyming book.

Still deciding? Our top pickEverybody Potties by Birdsong

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: books for one year olds, books for development and books for ages 3 to 5.