Product Description

The original George and Bartholomew story, by the author-illustrator of BE GENTLE! and GO TO BED!

George tries to persuade Bartholomew to use his potty, but only Ba knows when it it just the right time to use it. Full of gentle humor and lighthearted encouragement, the first book in Virginia Miller's George and Bartholomew series is the perfect way for parents and caregivers to address the issue of toilet training in a playful, nonthreatening way. Toddlers will identify with this spunky young bear and his bewilderment, and they'll cheer for Ba when he succeeds.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #369602 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-28
• Released on: 2000-08-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Board book
• 22 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Bartholomew is a small bear with a fondness for responding "Nah" to any question posed by George, a much larger bear. But George won't take "Nah" for an answer when he asks Bartholomew if he needs to use his potty. "On your potty!" roars the big bruin, and Bartholomew obeys. But after he sits and sits with no results, he wanders outdoors to play. Suddenly the little fellow realizes he needs to be on his potty, so he races inside and uses it successfully. George rewards his pal with a giant bear hug. Although Bartholomew displays an enchanting array of facial expressions--and strikes a number of endearing Pooh-like poses--Miller's sketchy illustrations are repetitious and feature rather bland colors. Overall, a slim addition to the heavily laden shelf of potty-training books. Ages 2-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-- Two bears, one large and one small, tackle toilet training. Little Bartholomew is a contrary toddler who answers "Nah" to everything, including the question,"Do you need your potty?" When big George uses his big voice to say "On your potty!" Bartholomew tries to no avail. Sent out to play, he suddenly realizes it's time. He races in--success! A big hug from George is his reward. Simple text makes the story appropriate for very young children; the bare-bones approach will probably require some additional explanation. The illustrations steal the show; charcoal-and-watercolor drawings are endearing without being saccharine. Bartholomew is the most appealing little bear outside fabric-softener ads. Facial expressions convey volumes; the sequence showing him on his potty is particularly true to life. This is a brief, low-key approach to the subject; for a more thorough treatment, try Joanna Cole's Your New Potty (Morrow, 1989.) --Lucy Young Clem, Evansville Vanderburgh County Public Library, IN
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Reviewed with Virginia Miller's Go to Bed!

Ages 9 mo.-3 yr. Originally published in 1994, these volumes work better in their new, board-book format. Toddlers will easily identify with little bear, Ba (whose favorite word is "Nah!"), and big bear, George, who sometimes has to use his big voice to get Ba to pay attention. In Bed! Ba is not in the mood for sleep, but when George insists, "Go to bed!" Ba complies. Well, there has to be a bit of tickling and giggling first. In Potty! Ba insists he doesn't have to go, even after George says, "On your potty." But while playing outside, Ba gets the urge, and then experiences the big-boy feeling of using the potty--just in time. Miller's art is simple, expressive, and just the right size for young eyes. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Warmhearted Introduction to the Potty
In the highly populated potty book market, this book captures but one aspect: trying to get to the potty in time. Author illustrator Virginia Miller offers spare text in large easy-to-read print and drawings in pencil and colored marker featuring a lovable bear named Bartholomew (�Ba� for short). When his papa George asks, �Do you need your potty, Ba?� his son responds �Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, NAH!� My girls thought this hysterical and began repeating it (almost to the point of tedium). Read this book for entertainment only. To introduce the functional aspects of the toilet training process, such as what actually goes in the potty, wiping, flushing, and washing up, try these more instructional potty books: The Potty Book for Girls by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, You Can Go to the Potty by Dr. Sears or What To Expect When You Use the Potty by Heidi Murkoff.

On your Potty!
Kindly dad George invites Bartholomew bear to sit on his potty, but Ba, in true toddler fashion, refuses. Later, though, when he's playing, the urge overtakes him and he runs to the potty in the nick of time... and, of course George congratulates him with a big bear hug. Virginia Miller's illustrations have a beutifully sure touch and the bears' facial expressions are very evocative of the powerful emotions surrounding this sometimes tricky time. "This had lovely pictures but the message didn't get across strongly enough to encourage Florence to sit on her own potty"

funny potty trip
Not a great potty training book. But a very fun book about potty training. We love all the books by this author!