Have you seen my potty?

PreS-Humor-filled cartoons of farm animals who read the newspaper or knit while they use the elusive red pot can not save this erratically rhymed tale. Suzy Sue's potty is snatched from underneath her by a cow, who blissfully discovers its intended use. Other desperate critters eventually have their turns taking advantage, each declining Suzy Sue's query for her potty because the animals all think it's a "poo-pot." In addition to lapses in logic, the story is too long and often too challenging ("hygiene" and "genius") for its possible audience. The book is lacking in most regards, but for McQuillan's friendly art.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A stolen potty is a disaster for young Suzy Sue, "who had something very important to do." As she searches high and low, with a disgruntled look on her face, a bevy of farmyard animals is oohing and ahhing over the great new poo-pot and anxiously awaiting their own turn with the bright red wonder. Youngsters, already tickled with the bathroom humor, will be in hysterics as Suzy Sue asks each animal in turn if they have seen her potty . . . while they are obviously sitting on it. They've never heard of a potty. Just as the situation looks dire, the animals notice what Suzy Sue is about to do and save the day: "Haven't you learned . . . / Or have you forgotten . . . / Always poo with a poo-pot / under your bottom!" Kelly's rhymes keep the tale moving along, although read-alouds may be interrupted by raucous laughter caused by McQuillan's artwork. The animals' body language and facial expressions will be all too familiar to the recently potty-trained and their trainers. The brightly colored illustrations have a country feel and delightfully adorable anthropomorphized animals. This is a sure winner for the toddler and preschool set. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.