POOPY SCIENCE

Get ready to learn the scoop on poop. (And urine, too!)

Scatological-minded readers—and really, who isn’t?—will be thrilled to get their hands on this smattering of waste-based trivia. Each page is dedicated to a new topic sure to hit that special place where humor, disgust, and a love of unusual facts intersect. For example, did you know that urine has been used as a whitening agent for centuries? From laundry in medieval times to teeth cleaning in ancient Rome, pee has been No. 1 when it comes to making whites whiter. Or perhaps readers will be interested to learn that rabbits consume their feces to take advantage of the missed nutrients the first time around and that panda babies eat their parents’ droppings to better develop healthy gut bacteria—two facts caregivers can throw back at readers if they complain about leftovers! Each page also includes a disgustingly funny full-color illustration or two. A brief list of further reading offers more sources to mine for information, and a glossary (sans pronunciation guide) is there to help forgetful readers with a smattering of terms, from ammonia to vitamins. Some caregivers may turn up their noses at the subject, but consider this: If a young reader is going to be obsessed with poop humor, they might as well learn something.

Fun, enlightening, and gross in all the best ways.