I Have to Go

Incorporating the charm of the familiar Muppet characters as toddlers (all identified by ``Little'' before their names) and the magic of the late Jim Henson, these four inaugural titles in the Sesame Street Toddler Books series are bound to be equally appealing to youngsters and parents. In easily accessible language, Ross addresses, in each volume, a single topic of importance to the two- to four-year-old set. I Have to Go gently offers reinforcement to those involved in toilet training, as Little Grover dashes past all of his pals in search of his mother. She leads him to the potty, and tells him how proud of him she is. The themes of the other books are: the importance of using such words and phrases as ``please'' and ``I'm sorry''; the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing tasks like building a tower of blocks or getting oneself dressed; and the wisdom of succumbing to sleep at nap time. Gorbaty's vivid, clearly defined pictures focus on the engaging characters without the distraction of busy backgrounds. The books' ``super-sturdy'' pages are just that, and should hold up well to eager little hands. Ages 2-4. (June)