Review: Um... Mommy, I Think I Flushed My Brother Down the Toilet
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 25, 2013
First, this book needs to be presented to the younger children as a fantasy or make believe. We all know it is not possible to flush any child down the toilet but in the black and white reality of young children, who worry about where the toilet goes, this needs to be explained in a positive manner for a teachable moment.Second this story creates a problem that the child solves for herself.  This empowers young children to see themselves as problem solvers. This is an important concept to get across to young children to help them develop problem-solving skills.  They need to think they can figure out and solve problems before they will actually attempt to solve a problem for themselves.  This is the first book I have seen in about 20 some years that does this as well as The Witch Under the Stairs by Maggie Smith.Third the subject matter of a messy land full of bugs and creepy crawlies appeals to young children.Fourth is the bonus with the use of rhyming words and non-sense words to promote word sounds for young children and interest them in the sounds of language.I would add only one thing and that is a warning that toys don't belong down a toilet either to add an extra lesson that would blend in with the story.