Ah, the joys of raising little boys! So many giggles over p-o-o-p. When I finally gave up fighting my kids’ fascination with poop, I was surprised to find some hilarious books on the subject. Children’s books about poop can be gross and funny, as well as informative and educational. They are sure to encourage potty training, entice reluctant readers, educate, and entertain. Adults enjoy a good chuckle, too, so consider adding a unique book about poop to your bathroom reading selection.
Here are ten fascinating children’s books about poop:
1. Everyone Poops, by Taro Gomi and Amanda Mayer Stinchecum, is probably the best known children’s book on the subject. Geared to ages 18 months-4 years, this Japanese book shows how (and what) various animals poop, and how babies, young children, and grown-ups poop. It’s great for introducing the concept of potty training. My kids are enthralled by this book!
2. Where’s the Poop? by July Markes and Susan Kathleen Hartung,is a lift-the-flap book allowing kids to see the places animals poop. Unlike the more graphic Everyone Poops, readers don’t actually see the animals in action. Each animal’s page has three flaps to lift, allowing the child to discover where the animal left the poop (always in the bottom right corner.) The book makes the natural progression from animals to children. Another great potty training aid.
3. The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit is a German import by Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Erlbruch. It’s intended for 4-8 year-olds, but I still remember reading this in a bookstore with my husband years ago, laughing so hard we almost cried. A very angry mole storms through the pages of this picture book with a pile of poop on his head. He visits various animals demanding to know whodunit. My husband summed it up best: “This book is damn hilarious.” We bought it.
4. The Long Journey of Mister Poop / El gran viaje del Señor Caca by Angele Delaunois, Marie Lafrance, and Daniel Zolinsky is a bilingual picture book about “caca”. A wolf leads kids through the digestive system using simple scientific text and fun illustrations. Ages 8-12.
5. The Truth About Poop, by Susan Goodman and Elwood Smith, is also for older kids well beyond the potty training stage. Written for 2nd-5th graders, this book scientifically explores a riveting topic for kids (and maybe grown-ups, too): bizarre facts about various animals’ pooping habits, everything you ever wanted to know about sewage disposal, unusual toilet paper substitutes, uses for poop, etc. This book is both funny and informative.
6. Poop: A Natural History of the Unmentionable, by Nicola Davies and Neal Layton, is the winner of the Bccb Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award. This book offers more information than the average adult might want to know, but it’s fascinating for its audience of 2nd-5th graders. A “tour of poop” covers the wide diversity of animal poop. Kids will also be enthralled learning about houses made of poop, and “coprophage” (poop-eaters). Davies, who has a background in zoology, introduces scientific terminology along with humor.
7. Flush: The Scoop on Poop Throughout the Ages, by Charise Mericle Harper, is a fun, historical book in verse for 2nd-4th graders. This book includes weird and gross rhyming text about poop, as well as fascinating toilet history. (Did you know the first toilets date back to 8000 B.C.? And what are toilets like in space?) Each poem is accompanied by an illustration and fun, trivia facts.
8. The Scoop on Poop, by science-writer and photographer Wayne Lynch, is a fun and informative read for 8-12 year olds. The subtitle says it all: “The Fascinating Science of How Animals Use Poop . . . to Build Homes, Send Messages, Cool Off, and lots more!” I know I’m intrigued! This is one of the few children’s books about poop using amazing photographs of animals and their poop.
9. Dino Poop & Other Remarkable Remains Of The Past, by Jane Hammerslough, explores the scientific discoveries made from fossilized dinosaur poop, vomit, and other unusual remains. With both poop and dinosaurs as topics, this fun and informative book is a hit for 9-12 year-olds. If you like this one, you might also want to check out Jurassic Poop: What Dinosaurs (And Others) Left Behind, by Jacob Berkowitz and Steve Mack, also for ages 9-12.
10. Who Pooped in the Zoo? San Diego Zoo: Exploring the Weirdest, Wackiest, Grossest & Most Surprising Facts About Zoo Poop, by Caroline Patterson and Robert Rath is for children 8-12. Naturally, this book explores animal poop trivia, but also uses poop to describe animal behavior.
Maybe the subject matter is a tad taboo, but it’s true . . . everyone poops.
