All by Myself!

I thought this would be about potty training, which is perfect timing for my 2 year old, but it is actually a story that addresses a child going potty by themselves in the night. This issue would be more for a 3-5 year old who has potty training down, but just needs help at night.
The illustrations were adorable, and my daughter really loved the penguins. She enjoyed it so much that she wanted to carry it around and read it over and over. The only issue with that is that I recieved this through the early reviewer's program on Library Thing, and the early copy wasn't bound, so she couldn't use it herself.
The story itself is cute and humorous, and the illustrations are wonderful. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A supercute story about a young penguin named Leon who knows how to use the potty but is scared to go alone at night. Mom and Dad penguin are tired! Mom tells him it's OK to go on his own and that night, Leon musters up the courage to go on his own. Things work out fine for Leon, and he's very proud of himself. Hilarity ensues. Read this to my 2 1/2 year old not-yet-trained son and his immediate response was "again?" That's a toddler thumbs-up for you right there. Jadoul's illustrations are simple and your kid will find them adorable. Mine did.

Oh, and anyone know how to bind this thing? Eerdmans, thanks for the opportunity to read and review this, but seriously? Completely unbound? Please reconsider sending out review books this way to show more nonprofessional reviewers, I wanted this for my kid to be able to look at. show less

I've never seen this particular issue addressed in a children's book before so I appreciate that the material is new and I love the illustrations! They are so sweet and adorable. I love their unfinished feel.

I do have to agree with the other reviewer who questioned sending an unbound book. I like my son to look at the book with me, and could not do so without the binding. I don't think it's too much to ask for a bound copy.

All by Myself is the story of a little penguin, Leon, who wakes up every night to go potty. But he can't go by himself. He calls mom or dad to come take him to the bathroom. Finally, little Leon decides to do the big boy thing and go potty all by himself. He is ecstatic in his success.

Well... the illustrations in this book are simple and charming. The penguins are well drawn and their emotions shine through.

This might be a good book to read to a child who has the same problem as Leon--getting up in the middle of the night. In fact, it feels like an exhausted parent wrote this book to teach their child to not wake mom and dad up in the middle of the night. But the super simplistic plot won't be one that kids will want to return to.

And show more that is the crux of the issue. There is really no plot to this book. Leon gets up in the middle of the night to go potty. Sometimes he calls mom. Sometimes he calls dad. Mom and dad are tired. Dad wants Leon to not wake them up. Leon does. Leon wakes mom and dad up to tell them he did. The end. That's it.

No one's expecting an intricate novel in a picture book, but those little plot twists, subplots, surprises in the illustrations, etc., are what makes cute picture books great picture books. I honestly can't see this book being used for much else other than a one- or two-time read for a child who gets up in the night to use the bathroom.

The ending is very abrupt and the humor at the end is cute but I think something that appeals more to parents than kids. show less

Generally sweet book about a little penguin who finally is able to go to the bathroom by himself during the night. I can't think of any other book that addresses this particular potty training issue, and think parents would find it more the subject more humorous and understandable than children. My real issue is the art. It looks as if a child drew it. If the author were I child, I would say they are fantastic, but knowing the author is adult, I fear I was not very impressed by the illustrations. This is the author's style, and I fear I prefer a different style. Style aside, this is a cute book that both children and parents will enjoy.

I received this book as part of the Early Reviewer program through www.librarything.com. My copy is a folded, full color proof. I LOVED this!! The artwork is adorable, the typeset is big and easy to read, and the theme is timeless. I work with parents and toddlers. Potty training issues are common and parents often ask if I have any book suggestions for them. I am definitely adding this one to my list.

Leon is already potty trained, but afraid to get up and go at night by himself. So cute to see how the parents and Leon are betrayed in the story - really reflecting the thinking of both sides. Leon and his parents are illustrated as penguins who live in an igloo.

There is so much in this book that will be attractive to children and show more parents both. Great job! show less

A very sweet potty training book. My son was very taken with the penguin family and the toddler's growing potty independence. It is seems to be geared for toddlers who are well into potty training.