The New Potty

Little Critter

by Gina Mayer, Mercer Mayer

Little Critter is dealing with his little sister learning to use the potty in this classic, funny, and heartwarming book.

Whether he's trying to help her make it to the bathroom, encouraging her when she does well, or getting frustrated when she doesn't, both parents and children alike will relate to this beloved story. A perfect way to teach children about potty training and how to be a good older sibling!

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter stories, which address all the major issues of growing up, are perennial favorites to generations of readers of all ages.

Edition MSRP: US $3²⁵ / $4⁹⁹ CAN (ISBN 0-375-82631-9)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Kids

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. For the German author of novels, youth books and children's books, see Gina Mayer

Reviews

[Kelly Kosinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped a lot!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/8/2024 - Very cute book dealing with potty training. I liked the characters made mistakes just like the rest of us.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Critter’s younger sister learns to use the potty.

My child was highly amused that Little Critter’s sister was encouraged to sit on the potty while doing everyday activities when her parents first bought it for her.

[Gore · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great education for children or children who have baby siblings starting to use the potty, but I was taken aback when they had the potty at the dining table. Um? Have you heard to never **** where you eat?! Then I realized she hadn't used the potty yet. She was just getting used to sitting on the potty. I'm still startled by it, not gonna lie. It might be a stretch, but the book can also give parents helpful tips on how to start their babies to use the potty, but I wouldn't have the potty put anywhere BUT the restroom because the baby might think it can be used anywhere. Technically, it can, but it shouldn't. The baby sister also played with her dolls using the potty pre-before using the potty, but I'd be firm with her that after she uses the potty, the doll can't use it anymore, or perhaps get the doll its own made-up potty like, I don't know, a stepping stool or something? It's not going to be fun for anyone when that doll's butt sinks into the used potty. :P

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book before we potty-trained Lily.

Overall, I liked it, but since Lily was the one potty-training, I didn't really care for Little Critter's attitude towards his sister in the book, even though it made sense for a big brother.

(He mentions how she smells funny, acts superior when she cries because she's scared of the new potty, and talks about how she is still annoying sometimes at the end even though she's a big girl now).

[Haleemeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is absolutely funny and fun. Little Critter is now potty trained is trying to teach his sister. However, he gets discouraged when his sister smells bad, makes the sane wet, or misses the toilet. Eventually she got it and Little Critter and his mom were so proud of Little Critter's little sister. The illustrations were just as funny as the story line. I loved everything about this book!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like some of the Little Critter books. However, this one had some rather questionable behaviors when it came to Mama Critter allowing Sister Critter to use here potty everywhere. It's not a book I'd read to kids for a realistic portrayal when it comes to teaching them bathroom etiquette.

[Shantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

for potty training

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for big siblings to read when their little sibling is starting potty training.

[Shelby Rollenhagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to read when you are potty training!

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how everyone in this story is so calm. Potty-training can sometimes be stressful. But staying calm definitely helps any situation. I love how big brother joins in the teaching as well.

[Audric the Illiterate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adding “becoming fully potty trained” to my vision board.

[Emily Knickerbocker]

This book is about learning to go on the potty and how it takes time. I would have my students write a the important facts of the book.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/8/2024 - A very cute and relatable book about potty training. Read with Momma.

[Jodell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got for my grandson he's potty training he loved it. It was cute. Although it was a hit. It didnt help with the potty traning.

[AveryNJakeO · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love Little Critter books, which is why I generously gave this an extra star. It's a cute companion book for actual potty training books, but is definitely more on the story/entertainment side of the spectrum than a book for learning about the potty. I also found it a bit odd that the authors sort of bash the progress the little sister makes, directly following a success. (It's written from the perspective of the big brother who is already toilet trained.) For example, the little sister uses the potty successfully and the text points out that the Mom was happy so she hugged the girl while she was still on the potty. In the same line it makes an issue about the big brother not doing that (basically, he didn't think it needed celebrating). The end of the book does something similar where the text says the sister is a big girl now for using the potty. Then the brother turns around and calls her a baby still. I think this might be a little confusing to a toddler learning to train. Still...a cute little book, but not one for inspiring confidence in the toilet training process.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neighbor gave us a critter book and Natalie loves it. So, when I saw this at the library, I had to encourage her to find it so we could take it out. We aren't potty training yet, but we read about the potty when the opportunity arises. She asks for this book all the time now. I'm sure it is because of the critters, and not the potty, but I'm sure it is helping her have a little initial understanding of the potty. I like how this book can be used to teach a toddler about the potty as well as to help a little older child understand about potty training a younger sibling.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the potty training books, this is my favorite. Probably just because it was Mary's favorite book for a long time, so I have cozy memories attached to it.

I also like that it is written from the older brothers prospective.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to introduce potty training - we've read it with our girls several times. I love Mercer Mayer's Little Critters.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perennial favorite Mercer Mayer delivers once again an enjoyable book this time timely in the sense my littlest one is in potty training. We've read this book many many times as she sits on the 'critter potty'.

...it's working!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the observing big brother's point of view. A bit strange that the little sister practices sitting on the potty while watching TV, eating dinner, etc. Overall we liked it.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, along with "once upon a potty" and "everyone poops" is a great tool to teach basic potty training concepts and I have read this book to countless children in my years as nanny.

[Cesar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The big brother certainly doesn't like the little sister! She peed on the bathroom floor!! Funny book.

[foo4luv · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only book I purchased on this topic when my daughter was that age. Very cute and funny without grossing out my poor adult self.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love all the little critter books!

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Sister learns to use the potty.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the marathon of new books at Grandma's house. Not requested as often as some others, but had a few re-reads.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't like potty training shenanigans...

[Annabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than Dinosaurs, I love Little Critter books

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. My LO loves it!