The Big Book of Gross Stuff [Paperback]

Bart King (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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
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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 (added by author)

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 (added by author)

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 (added by author)

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. (added by author)

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 (added by author)

"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"

(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 )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423607465
• ISBN-13: 978-1423607465
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #301,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gross Stuff is great!, January 28, 2010

By	Michael Milone - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Big Book of Gross Stuff (Paperback)

The Big Book of Gross Stuff is not only fun, but it's packed with stealth science. Any kid who reads the book will come out the other end a lot smarter and will have a great time doing it. Bart King is a wonderful writer with an uncanny ability to appeal to young readers. I can't wait to start gifting this book, and I really want to be there when the recipients read it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully disgusting, it's everything it claims to be!, May 14, 2010

By	Suzi Hough "http://fashion_piranha.livejourna... (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: The Big Book of Gross Stuff (Paperback)

`The Big Book of Gross Stuff'is exactly what it sounds like. Stuffed with the trivia, facts, and history of everything nasty, Bart King's latest book shares all you ever wanted to know about the gross stuff that enters and exits the human body. The book starts with birth ("You'll have every different liquid in your body coming out of every orifice. It's a rainbow of color!") and sallies bravely through life, sharing all the details on farts, bacteria, and belly button lint. Big green vomit-splats fill the pages, each one containing additional information like "Rumpology: Determining Fate From the Shape of Your Bum."

It's written to target kids 8-14, but at 25 I still found this incredibly entertaining. Sure, it's absolutely gross, but it's what kids (and adults) want to know! I was surprised by how much information was in this book. Yeah, there's a lot of corny jokes and silliness, but you end up learning a lot about how the body produces its different fluids. There's lots of illustrations, but it's primarily text.

I'm a chart person, so I was delighted by the page that had a chart detailing farts. One column for a food, one column for the sound that food's fart would make, and a column for the reactions of anyone nearby. Brilliant! Plus the onomatopoeia is fantastic. Who knew that prune farts sound like `shiggety-burple?' Or that a cauliflower fart is best described as `proodle-proodle?' (Man, I am so juvenile.)

I also love that the book has a reversible cover for readers who don't wish others to know what they're reading. Turn the cover inside out and you have a mock-composition notebook labeled `Biology' instead of a lime-green `The Big Book of Gross Stuff'.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice way to get your kids to learn stuff while getting "grossed out"..., April 11, 2010

By	Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Big Book of Gross Stuff (Paperback)

If you have younger kids, especially boys, you know that "gross" things rule their world. The grosser, the better. Since you're probably not going to be able to get them to give up their predilection for grossness, you might as well have them learn a thing or two in the process. Bart King's book would be perfect to turn "gross" into a learning activity... The Big Book of Gross Stuff. King dives into the subject in his typical tongue-in-cheek fashion, and it's the right style to keep your kids turning the pages (much to your dismay if you have to be the one reading it to them!)

Contents:
A Note On The Writing Of This Book; What Makes It Gross?; Gross Quiz!; The Miracle Of Birth; The Stream Of Life; Animals!; Breaking The Wind; Monsters!; Everyone Poops; It's A Gross Job, But I Don't Want To Do It!; Toilets!; Putting Your Best Food Forward; Sewers!; Gross Anatomy; It's A Gross World, After All!; The Skin You're In; Food, Drink, And Other Harmless Hazards; Kicking The Bucket; Epilogue; Bibliography

It's easy to see that King had a lot of fun here. It's not often that you can deliberately be this gross and use so many bad puns, yet still be completely on-topic. But while he's doing this, he's also mixing in quite a bit of learning. Yes, everyone poops. But do you know what happens from the time the food enters your mouth looking (and smelling) one way and exits your rear looking (and again smelling) completely different? Do you know why you start to salivate heavily if you're about to "ride the Regurgitron"? And much to my surprise, urine is far from a waste product in many cultures. And yes, I'm glad I'm not part of those cultures...

If you have a weak stomach or are easily grossed out, don't read this book. Really! But if you want to give your kid something that they'll likely read from cover to cover (probably much to your dismay), give them a copy of The Big Book of Gross Stuff.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Author
Payment: Free