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Busting!
Lou is BUSTING for the loo.
But the loo has quite a queue.
So what on earth is Lou to do?
But the loo has quite a queue.
So what on earth is Lou to do?
24 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Blabey
199 books849 followersAaron is an Australian author of children's books and artist who until the mid-2000s was also an actor. His award winning picture books include Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley, The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon and the best-selling Pig the Pug.
In the field of acting, he is probably best known for his lead roles in two television dramedies, 1994's The Damnation of Harvey McHugh, for which he won an Australian Film Institute Award, and 2003's CrashBurn, before retiring from performance in 2005.
In the field of acting, he is probably best known for his lead roles in two television dramedies, 1994's The Damnation of Harvey McHugh, for which he won an Australian Film Institute Award, and 2003's CrashBurn, before retiring from performance in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 14, 2017
I loved the newest offering from Blabey, my favourite children's author.
There is nothing worse than being a little kid and needing the loo so badly it becomes a real problem, the only thing worse is probably being the parent of the kid who is desperately searching for that mythical toilet!
The rhyming text makes this a fun read for all the little ones and we all know that children love toilet humour and it doesn't get much more toilet humoury than this!
There is nothing worse than being a little kid and needing the loo so badly it becomes a real problem, the only thing worse is probably being the parent of the kid who is desperately searching for that mythical toilet!
The rhyming text makes this a fun read for all the little ones and we all know that children love toilet humour and it doesn't get much more toilet humoury than this!
March 27, 2017
A fun rhyming book about queuing for the toilet.
May 26, 2025
A silly, frenetic rhyming book about a kid having to use the bathroom. I think this will be a winner, but I do wonder how often North American kids hear words like loo and queue.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
January 29, 2021
It’s hard not to enjoy this book! Blabey takes you on a rhyming adventure that I’m sure everyone can sympathise with - especially with toddlers. Great sense of humour and illustrations that add to the laughs. When I saw it in the store I knew I had to buy it and it didn’t disappoint.
January 23, 2018
Sajak kebelet pipis nan humoris. Manis.
May 9, 2017
Perhaps I expect too much of Aaron Blabey? I generally love his picture books, some of them are extraordinary- Thelma the Unicorn especially, and the Pig the Pug series are particularly fabulous and fun. I love seeing a new Blabey title on the shelves, and generally can't wait to read it. Busting! didn't quite work for me though. Yes I see what he is doing, but I was a bit annoyed the Lou who is busting is male. Do boys and men really have trouble with toilet queues? Very rarely. (Yes I do realise it's just a picture book). But Aaron Blabey pulls off some great rhymes, and the use of hullabaloo is always welcome, and there's a gag at the end, but Busting! just isn't a favourite for me.
February 21, 2024
I have realised that three year olds enjoy toilet humour. My daughter screamed in the silent library : I can see his butt very happily. I had to quickly scan and sigh in relief that no was around. Great rhyming scheme and of course a delightful and engaging read for my toddler. The best part was the dedication section : For the girl who ruined my bus trip to Cordoba (I am assuming she was busting too).
February 1, 2018
My kids (6 and 3) and I love reading this book. We had borrowed it so much from the library that I ended up just buying a copy for our family. The rhymes are so much fun, great for kids learning language patterns - when they feel part of the joke, they get so much satisfaction. The illustrations are very evocative too. We highly recommend it.
March 20, 2017
Just brilliant. Any one with a weak bladder like me or toddlers with that inexplicable ability to ignore the call of nature until the last absolute possible minute will adore this ode to toilet queues. Potty humour has never read so well.
June 21, 2017
You will rue not reading about Lou.
October 7, 2017
A story about needing to go to the toilet and the race to find a bathroom. This is a story that every child can relate to.
February 7, 2019
Lou is BUSTING for the loo. But the loo has quite a queue. So what on earth is Lou to do?
Blabey makes rhyming seem so effortless and simple in this book. He only has a few rhyming words to work with, yet he has come up with a very funny and relateable story of a boy named Lou who needs to use the loo.
Both kids and adults will relate to this. There’s nothing worse than wanting to use the bathroom but you can’t find one. You can feel Lou’s pain as he’s sooo busting to use the loo.
Both the illustrations and the great use of rhyme, make this book funny all the way to the last page. The ending is a particularly good use of word play.
Blabey makes rhyming seem so effortless and simple in this book. He only has a few rhyming words to work with, yet he has come up with a very funny and relateable story of a boy named Lou who needs to use the loo.
Both kids and adults will relate to this. There’s nothing worse than wanting to use the bathroom but you can’t find one. You can feel Lou’s pain as he’s sooo busting to use the loo.
Both the illustrations and the great use of rhyme, make this book funny all the way to the last page. The ending is a particularly good use of word play.
February 17, 2018
Hmmm, well, this didn't work for us but I'm sure it will for other kids. I think it would probably read well to 4-6 year olds who have a strong concept of using a toilet and the frustration of needing to wait. It didn't work very well with Miss 3 (ASD) as her initial interpretation of 'busting' was 'breaking' and then I had to keep mentally reminding myself to change the character's name to Luke as Lou/loo was too confusing for her. The story itself also wasn't relevant yet but I think a classroom of 5 year olds would probably enjoy it.
March 1, 2018
SO great!!!
Such fun to read.
So many different sounds you can make through this.
Love the rhyming.
My boy laughs and screams though it and he’s only 5 months old.
Even better than pig the pug books.
Such fun to read.
So many different sounds you can make through this.
Love the rhyming.
My boy laughs and screams though it and he’s only 5 months old.
Even better than pig the pug books.
April 3, 2020
Aaron Blabey is a comedic mastermind. This book is so funny: a fast favourite amongst children and a joy for parents to read (even over and over again). Lots of great sounds and hilarious illustrations.
January 19, 2018
Those fantastic rhymes!! :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWTsq...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWTsq...
July 17, 2018
Very funny! Loved it!!!
September 29, 2022
3.5
Haha this book is so ridiculous- but I can relate 😂😂
Haha this book is so ridiculous- but I can relate 😂😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2017
Probably not one of his best, but then I'm not the target audience...
March 23, 2017
Interesting. Relatable. Mildly funny. I feel there are too many toilet books out there already but this one is probably better than some of them. I liked it as an adult who has a friend who always needs the loo, so as a joke book. I like the twist at the end.
March 27, 2017
Classic Blabey and absolutely hilarious. I loved this book!
April 10, 2017
If you were to write down at least a dozen words that all rhyme, would you be able to turn those words into a story that could engage young readers and make them laugh all whilst learning? That is exactly what Australian author and artist Aaron Blabey has done in his new book, ‘Busting!’ Blabey is no stranger to writing award-winning bestsellers for children with other much-loved titles such as ‘Pig the Pug’ and ‘The Bad Guys’ topping the children’s bestseller lists.
Busting! Is the story of Lou, who is busting for the loo but doesn’t know what to do because there is a quite a queue. The story is easily relatable to young children and as other parents who have rushed through shopping centres and into service stations know, young children can often leave their toileting needs until the last minute and so end up with the same problem as Lou. The illustrations in the book (particularly Lou’s facial expressions) help children to understand the desperation of poor Lou and are comical as children would realise from experience that Lou is in no real danger.
With my teacher’s hat on, I can tell you that this book is a gem. It is a great example of using rhythm and rhyme in the English language and that different phonograms can make the same sound. The pages are littered with various fonts and text choices which could open up early literary conversations on author’s choice and features of texts. This text would also be helpful in teaching students about the difference between to/too and two, as well as learning about grammar, story structure, how illustrations can help tell a story and much more.
Now as a mum who read this story to her children, I can say it’s a winner with them as well. My children enjoyed the story, illustrations, toilet humour and the surprising and very clever ending. The book had us all laughing in the book shop and they asked me if we could buy it because they wanted to read it again and again. That’s very high praise indeed believe me. We all know kids love toilet humour and I’ve read quite a few toilet humour books to young children who always enjoy having a giggle whilst looking around at their peers to share the joke. It seems to be a bonding experience when children are allowed a peek into the world of mild crude humour – something adults would usually not allow them to indulge in. For me, reading stories like this and hearing the magical sound of children’s giggles and laughter is an experience that brings so much joy. I would like to thank you Aaron Blabey for your delightful book that encourages children to love books and reading and for causing that sound of children’s laughter that brings joy to so many people regardless of age, everywhere.
Busting! Is the story of Lou, who is busting for the loo but doesn’t know what to do because there is a quite a queue. The story is easily relatable to young children and as other parents who have rushed through shopping centres and into service stations know, young children can often leave their toileting needs until the last minute and so end up with the same problem as Lou. The illustrations in the book (particularly Lou’s facial expressions) help children to understand the desperation of poor Lou and are comical as children would realise from experience that Lou is in no real danger.
With my teacher’s hat on, I can tell you that this book is a gem. It is a great example of using rhythm and rhyme in the English language and that different phonograms can make the same sound. The pages are littered with various fonts and text choices which could open up early literary conversations on author’s choice and features of texts. This text would also be helpful in teaching students about the difference between to/too and two, as well as learning about grammar, story structure, how illustrations can help tell a story and much more.
Now as a mum who read this story to her children, I can say it’s a winner with them as well. My children enjoyed the story, illustrations, toilet humour and the surprising and very clever ending. The book had us all laughing in the book shop and they asked me if we could buy it because they wanted to read it again and again. That’s very high praise indeed believe me. We all know kids love toilet humour and I’ve read quite a few toilet humour books to young children who always enjoy having a giggle whilst looking around at their peers to share the joke. It seems to be a bonding experience when children are allowed a peek into the world of mild crude humour – something adults would usually not allow them to indulge in. For me, reading stories like this and hearing the magical sound of children’s giggles and laughter is an experience that brings so much joy. I would like to thank you Aaron Blabey for your delightful book that encourages children to love books and reading and for causing that sound of children’s laughter that brings joy to so many people regardless of age, everywhere.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews