Bye-Bye Binky

Toddler-PreS—These simple and visually bold titles address two common milestones in the life of a young child—letting go of a pacifier and potty training. Van Lieshout uses the appeal of being a "big kid" to encourage young children. In Bye-Bye Binky, a smiling toddler narrates her transition from a crying baby comforted only by her binky to a girl who can ask for what she needs. She marks her transition to "big kid" by passing her binky along to another baby. The digital illustrations match the simple text and mainly feature the central character, rendered in thick black lines and positioned against a solid background. Neon orange contrasts with chocolate brown, creating a striking visual effect. I Use the Potty centers on a boy who is also looking back at his baby days, when he "pooped and peed in SO MANY DIAPERS." There is plenty to appeal to those who find potty humor hilarious, including a satisfying "plop" when he finally masters the potty. The illustrations in this title are done in muted blue and neon yellow, which works especially well for an unfortunate leaky diaper scene.