The title says it all: this fun debut is a comedic take on potty training with a clever message at the end. Two children bring home a pet porcupine, but they can only keep her if she's house-trained! After a whirlwind of increasingly zany approaches, the kids learn that sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to ask nicely. While the 'How To' concept is not new in the picture book genre, the porcupine and potty-training mash-up is fresh and funny, and the popularity of these books does not seem to be waning. Tom's spare, dry writing style, strong sense of composition, and expressive artwork with sly details suggest he is a talent to grow; his charming style gives him great commercial appeal, while his clever voice and sophisticated style will make him appealing to the indie markets as well.

You think YOU'RE anxious about the first day of school? Imagine how your backpack feels! In this hilarious yet reassuring back-to-school picture book, a backpack deals with first-day-of-school nerves and feeling out of place. Filled with crowded hallways, lonely cafeteria tables, toilet stalls, and the signature existential angst of Simon Rich, this fun read-aloud will have kids braving classrooms with a smile (and maybe taking better care of their trusty backpacks...).

And so begins a hilarious dip into the choppy waters of a nightly ritual that parents and children alike often dread. Filled with soapsuds, rubber duckies, and existential angst, Simon Rich's debut picture book is a splashy tale of cleanliness-and survival. This irreverent read-aloud treat about facing fear and embracing adventure might just change the way you see bath time (and your bathroom) forever.