The Prince and the Potty

Lewison (Raindrop, Plop) introduces a little prince who refuses to shed his diapers, in a paper-over-board tale with a rather confusing message. His parents are ""worried that the prince would be wearing diapers forever and ever-even when he became king himself. And that would never do."" The Royal Wise Man offers an enigmatic solution: ""Go get the prince a puppy."" When the boy sees how everyone cheers for the pet when it finally pees ""where a puppy should go."" (Would-be dog owners beware: the royals teach the pup to go on a cloth, placed over what appears to be carpeting.) ""Suddenly, the prince had to go too. Did he go in his diaper?... Of course not-that's silly! So where did go? He went where a prince should go."" To underscore this point, Motoyama (Countdown to Thanksgiving) shows the prince in action: his back is turned to the audience, but a discreet (and appropriately giggle-inducing) stream can be seen emanating from his body directly into the royal potty. Parents may balk at a potty-training parable that involves the acquisition of a puppy. But couched with the proper introduction, this chipper economical tale, with its gentle bathroom humor and velvety-hued acrylics, may be just the ticket to induce readers to put their own pull-ups away for good. Ages 1-4.