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.