I Have to Go! (Munsch for Kids)

Although Andrew's parents both ask him if he needs to pee before they set out on a trip to his grandparents' home, the little boy waits until they have embarked to declare that he needs to go. Unable to wait for the nearest gas station, he must relieve himself behind a tree. Similarly, although both parents and grandparents ask if he needs to go, before zipping him into his snowsuit, he waits until he is outside in the snow to declare his need. What will happen when he goes to bed...?

An amusing look at an all-too-common childhood experience - namely, refusing to go to the bathroom when opportunity presents itself, and then having a need, when that opportunity has passed - I Have To Go! is one of many picture-books from Canadian show more author/illustrator team Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko. I appreciated the fact that wetting the bed is treated in a non-sentimental, matter-of-fact way here, one that strips it of any stigma or shame. The artwork is quite humorous - I think my favorite scene is the one in which Andrew relieves himself behind a tree, while his father stands in the foreground. Recommended to anyone looking for humorous children's stories about "going before you go" (one of my own mother's maxims) and/or wetting the bed. show less

This is a LOL-tastic book about a boy who emphatically Does Not Need To Go. He doesn't need to go before he puts on his snowsuit. (And then he does.) He doesn't need to go before they go on a long drive. (And then he does.) He doesn't need to go before bed. (And then he does.)

Wow, does this ever sound familiar! On one level, every parent in the world ought to be able to identify with the long-suffering grown-ups in this book. On another, the refrain "I HAVE TO GO PEE!" is going to make most children roll around laughing because, you know, it's PEE-PEE. OMG! You're reading a book about PEEING, and it's not a BABY book with POTTIES in it either!

It even has a sweet ending to it.

Unless you are the sort of family that doesn't like this sort show more of slightly-vulgar humor, I'd definitely advise that you check it out. show less

I Have to Go! is an absolute Munsch classic! This story of a little boy who refuses to pee when his parents ask him too rings so true to life and is no doubt drawn from Munsch’s own experiences as a parent. Recently re-released as a slightly updated board book, Munsch’s trademark text is condensed to make it more preschool friendly, and is combined with the original illustrations from his long-time illustrator Michael Martchenko in the style that has become so associated with Munsch’s classic works.

Andrew won’t pee before car trips, he won’t pee before getting dressed up in a snowsuit (ah, Canadian parenting!), and he won’t pee before he goes to bed. I’m a huge fan of Robert Munsch’s ‘vintage’ titles from the ‘80s, show more most likely because I grew up with them myself! Even if I try to set that bias aside, I think this is still an entirely delightful story.

My seven-year-old agrees with me, and it’s the first Munsch title that she’s felt eager to read to herself and to her little sisters. Our children love the classic Munsch-style repetition, the easy to chime in with response lines, the onomatopoeia (sounds written as words), and the hilarity of the ensuing situations. This is just a keeper – enough said.

All in all I Have to Go! is still just as good as it has ever been, and is ready to please a new generation of toddlers, preschoolers, early readers, and parents alike. There’s a reason over a million copies of this title have been sold in it’s various forms!

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com show less

The potty humor in this feel dated. But for parents who do not like Captain Underpants, or other underwear books, this one might work better. I still hate the Munsch Reader format.

I enjoyed reading this book because it was humorous and relatable. Having worked with kids for several years now, I can definitely relate in this situation. This book would benefit a child that is possibly going through potty training. I did not give it 5 stars because it was somewhat too repetitive for me.

A great Robert Munsch book! One of his better ones for sure...well for parents at least. I find that parents enjoy this book more than the children do; however if the reader is animated enough the children enjoy it as well. They enjoy it for the words that they can "read" along with the adult. Adults love it because they have been there before and will be there again and sometime you just have to sit back and laugh at these situations. It is absolutley touching and sentimental with the ending. One of my favorites of Robert Munsch!

Totally hilarious for parents in the process of toilet teaching. And the children think it's funny too, especially when the boy says "I have decided never to go pee again!" Michael Martchenko's illustrations are straight-forward but fit perfectly with the story.