Book Review: Is That a Teapot by the Toilet?
By Zahirah Lynn Eppard
Maryland
When I first saw the title of this book, it drew a smile. As a Muslim convert, a reference to the “teapot” resonates. What I didn’t expect to find upon further investigation was a fully comprehensive resource on the topic of potty training from an Islamic perspective.
Is That a Teapot by the Toilet? by award-winning author Rabia Bashir holds a cute story for readers of all ages. Its main character Rayyan is now “ready for potty training” and the entire family gets involved to focus on the details. There is a rehearsal of how to enter the bathroom with “Bismillah” and his left foot. His mini toilet is strategically positioned for the challenge. After taking care of his business on the potty, his mother brings a lesson - “you must clean yourself with water - that’s what Muslims do.” And they proceed to discuss the names given to the water vessel in Mom’s native Bengali and Dad’s native Urdu, how and why to wash with the water, and more.
The illustrations by Basma Hosam beautifully support the progression of the book and Rayyan’s (and the reader’s) learning process visually. Realism and the need for patience sets in as Rayyan as accidents happen along the way. The family also encounters the challenges of adhering to proper hygiene practices while on a shopping trip, at a halal restaurant, at a family wedding in a fancy hotel, and at the playground. They make use of various vessels associated with istinja (the Arabic term for washing after use of the bathroom) - a watering can with an awkwardly long spout, a plastic cup, a mini shower at the mosque, and even the use of a bottle from Mom’s purse. All of these scenarios are incredibly familiar to anyone who has enjoined the task of potty training or intended to use istinja away from home themselves.
As an added bonus, Bashir includes many resources that uplift the publication to a comprehensive guide. For parents there is background story about her own experiences with her sons, questions to spark family conversations, more details about istinja, and a page devoted to duaas (that can be copied and posted for regular use). For children, there is a cute potty-training song complete with a QR code to the audio version, a maze activity that takes Rayyan and his Dad to the restroom, and a section which provides names for the “teapot” in seven different countries.
Is That a Teapot by the Toilet? is worthy of a purchase for every home or public library. It would also be a great gift for a child heading into this growth milestone. Parents should also check out other amazing books by Rabia Bashir and additional opportunities for Islamic learning on her website. Visit www.BismillahBees.com for a help-filled blog and free printable children’s activities.
(Zahirah Lynn Eppard is the managing editor of the Muslim Home parenting newsletter project. As Sound Vision’s Director of Religious Education, she has also spearheaded the production of more than 400 online classes serving children ages 3-12 in the Adam’s World and Colors of Islam Clubs. Eppard has worked in the field of education as a teacher, homeschooler, and Islamic school principal, as a marital and crisis intervention counselor, and as a lobbyist, and social justice activist. She lives with her husband, children, and grandchildren in Maryland. https://www.soundvision.com/article/book-review-is-that-a-teapot-by-the-toilet)
