From School Library Journal
Grade 6-10 This book is not for casual readers. Its pages are packed solid with disgusting information on an array of topics ranging from the predictable (vomiting, farting, burping, pooping) to the less obvious (corpses, shrunken heads, childbirth, and Rocky Mountain oysters). The author includes many historical anecdotes and interesting bits of gross trivia (did you know that the
Apollo 11 astronauts left their defecation collection devices on the moon?). There's an extensive bibliography, which is rare in this type of book. The irreverent writing style is frequently laugh-out-loud funny and full of puns. Kids will love the euphemisms for various bodily functions and the sidebars (one has a recipe for making fake snot). Mercifully, the illustrations are few and are restricted to black-and-white pen-and-ink sketches. Nonetheless, this book is not for the faint of heart. Some adults may feel it is in poor taste, but there are certainly middle school kids (let's face it boys) who will eat it up.
Marcia Kochel, Olson Middle School, Bloomington, MN Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
[King] really "gets" kids... The book is full of tween-boy appeal, with info like "World's Most Disgusting Jobs", a gross quiz and loads more...and King's Ultra-Gross website is a treasure trove o' grossness. Fascinating fun! --ParentMap.com, "Raves: Cool New Media", 3/1/10
Author Bart King specializes in "stealth science," taking on messy topics that adolescent boys adore -- and explaining the facts behind them in a clear and entertaining way. Booger basics, anyone? --
The Birmingham News, 3/8/10
Rating: "A" [It's a good book] to bring to a sleepover party...or find topics for a school report or science experiment. It's something you'll probably read, then stop and read aloud to the nearest person, because they just HAVE to hear it. --PBS Kids, “It’s My Life!” 3/11/10
The Big Book of Gross Stuff is a sure hit with the 8- to 12-year-old set. --The Florida Times-Union, March 23, 2010.
Bart King is a lot like Bill Nye the Science Guy. He teaches kids and immature adults about science and the human body, but King takes it to a whole new level. --The Daily Vanguard, 4/27/10
"It's something you'll probably read, then stop and read aloud to the nearest person, because they just have to hear it. Rating: A"
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PBS )
This book is not for casual readers. Its pages are packed solid with disgusting information on an array of topics ranging from the predictable (vomiting, farting, burping, pooping) to the less obvious (corpses, shrunken heads, childbirth, and "Rocky Mountain oysters"). The author includes many historical anecdotes and interesting bits of gross trivia (did you know that the Apollo 11 astronauts left their "defecation collection devices" on the moon?). There's an extensive bibliography, which is rare in this type of book. The irreverent writing style is frequently laugh-out-loud funny and full of puns. Kids will love the euphemisms for various bodily functions and the sidebars (one has a recipe for making fake snot). Mercifully, the illustrations are few and are restricted to black-and-white pen-and-ink sketches. Nonetheless, this book is not for the faint of heart. Some adults may feel it is in poor taste, but there are certainly middle school kids (let's face it-boys) who will eat it up. (Marcia Kochel
School Library Journal Olson Middle School, Bloomington, MN )
