PARENTS' COMMENTS
The following are all genuine comments made by parents who have read one of James Parkin's books with their child. All comments are anonymous to protect the identities of the children. If you would like to comment on any of the books, please use the button below to email the author. Comments may be edited.
"I have a six year old daughter with encopresis and I have been at my wits end with what to do about her soiling problems. I have just read A Girl Like You to her and it was like we had written down our own story in a book - the similarity to our experience was incredible. As a result, it has had a hugely positive impact on my daughter as she now understands that she isn't the only one with this condition. I also found the book very helpful personally. It was so enlightening to gain an understanding of how my daughter feels about soiling herself, as she is still quite young to be able to fully explain her emotions to me. Thank you so much for writing such an excellent book."
"Just wanted to message to say I bought your book Help! I Poo My Pants - For Boys and my 7 year old read it from cover to cover. I think it really resonated with him. So much in the book was familiar to him and his soiling issues. It was also the first book he wanted to read independently!! Thank you for writing it and helping what is such a complicated issue for so many children."
"The book Help! I Poo My Pants - For Girls is magic! My 6 year old daughter wouldn’t poo on the toilet, just in her pants. Not soil overflow from constipation, but toilet avoidance and withholding. We have tried everything over the years, but nothing worked. Until now. The book came on Wednesday, after I read the blurb to her and she said 'That sounds like the book for me.' She was engrossed in it and on Saturday, just 3 days later, did her first poo on the toilet. We couldn’t believe it. She is so happy that she’s finally done it and we are so proud of her!"
"A Girl Like You is wonderful!!! I just finished reading it through by myself and then read the first chapter to my daughter (8 year old who soils). It is very helpful and gives me a better understanding of this problem."
"My son has mild autism and has a soiling condition. He is about to turn 9 just like the boy in A Boy Like You. My son is not a fan of reading especially books without pictures. He usually does not like to read or watch helpful things about the conditions he has. I was so darn surprised when i saw him with a smile on his face happily reading a few chapters after purchasing. He kept relating to the character in the story and pointing out similarities to him and the boy Justin in the book. Very pleased with the purchase of the book."
"My son snuggled up next to me on the couch while I was reading A Boy Like You and listened very closely, and I could tell he was listening because he giggled at some of the funny parts...I am so so so so glad to have found this wonderful resource for my son. I should have read it alone first, but there was no way my son was going to let me stop! He LOVED the book. LOVED it."
"So we got Help! I Poop My Pants - For Girls in the mail today. At first my daughter cried and was embarrassed and upset that I got this for her but I started reading it and she kept interrupting me and opening up to me about how relatable the main character, Amelia, is and how she had found herself in similar situations. She's the same age too. We are half way through the book and she can't wait to finish it tomorrow. I highly recommend this for your 7 year old."
"Tonight I read A Girl Like You. I was brought to tears many times. My husband is reading it now and my 7 year old daughter has read a few chapters and wants to stay up all night and keep reading about this girl who has accidents just like her. Thank you James. This book has helped me so much!"
"My son came home from school and told me he had confided in a friend about his ‘toilet’ problem! He has never told anyone (he’s 8) but reading A Boy Like You gave him the confidence. His friend was really kind to him (he shared a secret too) and it’s given him a real boost."
"Your book Help! I Poo My Pants - For Girls arrived today - best money I have spent! The conversations with my 6 year old daughter have been invaluable. She’s loving the book and currently on the toilet again trying her hardest. Thank you for writing it!"
"I left the book Help! I Poo My Pants - For Boys laying around the house so it could be picked up and read without any embarrassment and it worked. It led to easy conversations, which gave reassurance and enabled a plan to tackle the problem together."
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading a child's perspective and understanding of Enco and it left me thinking if my daughter (8 years old) felt the same way. I gave it to her to read and found it in her special bag."
"I just bought the ebook for my son last night. He read it and said 'this is awesome!' We just did an at home clean-out tonight."
"News from the Loos is great! Society needs to normalize body functions rather than keeping poo talk taboo. This is a great collection of short stories that has kept my 7 year old wanting more. There are clever twists as friendly kids battle not so friendly kids and clever kids figure out how to help others in need. Real situations are depicted that will help your child realize the right thing to do, if you have to, is to listen to your body and poo - it’s cool to poo at school. There are also little fun graphics and facts smattered between chapters. Highly recommend this for parents, kids, schools and teachers. There are too many people who look down on poor children who have accidents. The world needs more empathy. You will find that in this book"
"I just want to say a huge thank you to James Parkin, my nearly 9 year old read A Boy Like You! And he was shocked other people had the same problem as him! And he wasn't a freak!! He agreed to take control and change when he needs to, rather than sit in dirty underwear! Well it's been nearly 2 weeks with 1 accident and he took control and changed at school! He was so proud of himself! I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, he said I almost feel 'normal'"
"I just wanted to thank you for writing the American version of A Girl Like You. I purchased it tonight and my almost 9 year old flew through it in under an hour. She absolutely loved reading a book about someone like her and it helped her to finally find the words to explain what she is thinking and feeling. It also was so good for me to read to understand her a little better. Thank you so much for giving her the boost of confidence and determination she needed tonight! I think this might be one that she reads over and over.""
My 10 year old son read A Boy Like You and he relates to everything you wrote except he doesn't have any close friend at school to tell him, but we are going to work on going to the toilet at school. Positive words at last coming from him...I actually can't believe how helpful this has been and how much happier my son is now with telling me it all."
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading a child's perspective and understanding of Enco in A Girl Like You and it left me thinking if my daughter (8 years old) felt the same way. I gave it to her to read and found it in her special bag."
"My 9 year old now believes me when I say it happens to other people. He put in the classroom suggestion box about raising left hand for toilet breaks and right hand for answering questions, which the teacher agreed was a great idea."
"We really enjoyed A Boy Like You. It has helped me see his condition through his eyes and be more compassionate and understanding in my dealing with his accidents. And it has helped him understand he is not the only person with this problem. Since reading this book to him he has spontaneously taken himself to the toilet and gone successfully for the last 2 days."
"Very impressed with A Boy Like You. It's written from a child's perspective which is great for getting the child you're reading it with to relate their own issue to Beth's and understand that they're not alone. An excellent conversation starter to help children to open up and discuss their feelings about soiling and reinforce management methods such as 'toilet sits'. My child improved radically just from reading this with him."
"My 7 year old girl has been reading A Girl Like You tonight and is very impressed so far - when she first realised Beth has the same issues as her she looked up at me and said 'Hey Mum look, Beth is like me!' And she read out to me why (because she sometimes pooed her pants). She is VERY keen to finish the book asap and enjoyed reading that Beth also carries wipes and uses the staff toilet - just like she does...We have also used what she has read as a tool, so when she protested that she hadn't soiled her pants, I reminded her about Beth not knowing when she has pooed, and it really helped, she realised she did have to go and check."
"News from the Loos is great! Society needs to normalize body functions rather than keeping poo talk taboo. This is a great collection of short stories that has kept my 7 year old wanting more. There are clever twists as friendly kids battle not so friendly kids and clever kids figure out how to help others in need. Real situations are depicted that will help your child realize the right thing to do, if you have to, is to listen to your body and poo - it’s cool to poo at school. There are also little fun graphics and facts smattered between chapters. Highly recommend this for parents, kids, schools and teachers. There are too many people who look down on poor children who have accidents. The world needs more empathy. You will find that in this book"
"I just want to say a huge thank you to James Parkin, my nearly 9 year old read A Boy Like You! And he was shocked other people had the same problem as him! And he wasn't a freak!! He agreed to take control and change when he needs to, rather than sit in dirty underwear! Well it's been nearly 2 weeks with 1 accident and he took control and changed at school! He was so proud of himself! I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, he said I almost feel 'normal'"
"I just wanted to thank you for writing the American version of A Girl Like You. I purchased it tonight and my almost 9 year old flew through it in under an hour. She absolutely loved reading a book about someone like her and it helped her to finally find the words to explain what she is thinking and feeling. It also was so good for me to read to understand her a little better. Thank you so much for giving her the boost of confidence and determination she needed tonight! I think this might be one that she reads over and over.""
My 10 year old son read A Boy Like You and he relates to everything you wrote except he doesn't have any close friend at school to tell him, but we are going to work on going to the toilet at school. Positive words at last coming from him...I actually can't believe how helpful this has been and how much happier my son is now with telling me it all."
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading a child's perspective and understanding of Enco in A Girl Like You and it left me thinking if my daughter (8 years old) felt the same way. I gave it to her to read and found it in her special bag."
"My 9 year old now believes me when I say it happens to other people. He put in the classroom suggestion box about raising left hand for toilet breaks and right hand for answering questions, which the teacher agreed was a great idea."
"We really enjoyed A Boy Like You. It has helped me see his condition through his eyes and be more compassionate and understanding in my dealing with his accidents. And it has helped him understand he is not the only person with this problem. Since reading this book to him he has spontaneously taken himself to the toilet and gone successfully for the last 2 days."
"Very impressed with A Boy Like You. It's written from a child's perspective which is great for getting the child you're reading it with to relate their own issue to Beth's and understand that they're not alone. An excellent conversation starter to help children to open up and discuss their feelings about soiling and reinforce management methods such as 'toilet sits'. My child improved radically just from reading this with him."
"My 7 year old girl has been reading A Girl Like You tonight and is very impressed so far - when she first realised Beth has the same issues as her she looked up at me and said 'Hey Mum look, Beth is like me!' And she read out to me why (because she sometimes pooed her pants). She is VERY keen to finish the book asap and enjoyed reading that Beth also carries wipes and uses the staff toilet - just like she does...We have also used what she has read as a tool, so when she protested that she hadn't soiled her pants, I reminded her about Beth not knowing when she has pooed, and it really helped, she realised she did have to go and check."
