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Susan E. Goodman
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The Truth about Poop Hardcover – May 11, 2004

by Susan E. Goodman (Author), Elwood Smith (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 80 ratings
See all formats and editions
An informative and funny compendium of fascinating, weird, and gross facts about excrement takes readers from life before toilet paper to the most modern toilets and from poop games to poop used in warfare.
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  1. Reading age
    6 - 10 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 4
  5. Lexile measure
    930L
  6. Dimensions
    8.5 x 0.25 x 9.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Viking Juvenile
  8. Publication date
    May 11, 2004
  9. ISBN-10
    9780670036745
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0670036745
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Step aside, Walter the Farting Dog. Science writer Goodman (Claws, Coats, and Camouflage) deserves a round of applause, and no raspberries, for demystifying a risky topic. With a winning combination of scientific curiosity and amusement, the intrepid author dives into her research. In a section titled "How Much?/How Often?," she gladly reveals the private matters of sloths, geese and bears. She finds that a skipper caterpillar "shoot[s] its poop... six feet" to misdirect predators, and that sharks hunt by scent (castaways should "poop in the life raft"). She chronicles human error and ingenuity in sewage disposal ("British plumber Thomas Crapper... certainly had the best name for the job" in creating the flush toilet, but was not its sole inventor), and she explores toilet paper substitutes from corncobs to a "cheap book of poetry" to "the frayed end of old anchor cables" aboard ships. In addition, she explains paleontologists' professional interest in "chunks of fossilized poop" called coprolites, suggests multiple uses for cow patties (kindling, Frisbees, bedding), discusses astronauts' euphemistic "maximum absorption garments" (aka diapers) and reveals military-strategic applications for "Dangerous Poop." While Goodman delivers the straight stuff about international and U.S. bathroom practices, demonstrating that scrupulous research can be fun, Smith (Raise the Roof!) creates vaudevillean cartoons that suggest their steamy subject but don't get too close. This scatological documentary could make a splash. Ages 7-up.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–Chock-full of intriguing, gross, and bizarre facts about animal and human excrement, Goodman's free-range text discusses everything from Tyrannosaurus rex dung to the evolution of toilet paper. The three main sections outline animal elimination practices, the processes of human excretion and plumbing, and helpful uses for poop (e.g., for fertilizer or scientific research). While the quirky organization and lack of an index may not make this a useful resource for research, the subject matter will capture kids' attention and draw reluctant readers. Even though the cover illustration of an elephant on a chamber pot may make browsers think it is a potty-training book, the rest of Smith's retro cartoons in muted colors provide humor without being too gross. This is Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops (Kane/Miller, 1995) for the "Captain Underpants" (Scholastic) set.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0670036749
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Juvenile; 0 edition (May 11, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780670036745
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0670036745
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 10 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 930L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.25 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 80 ratings

About the author

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Susan E. Goodman

Susan E. Goodman

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To write my nonfiction books for kids, I have had a lot of adventures. I've flown onto the polar icecap with the Air Force, shared a bathroom with a tarantula in the Amazon, and spent three days at a Monster Truck rally without ever buying fried dough. Which was the hardest? I'll let you guess.

My book All in Just One Cookie was an ALA Notable and On This Spot was a Washington Post Best Picture Book of its year. It's a Dog's Life and How Do You Burp in Space? share seven State Book Award nominations between them.

My latest book was illustrated by the wonderful E. B. Lewis. The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial is about an African American family who, over 160 years ago, had the courage to take the city of Boston to court for having segregated schools.

Besides writing for kids, I speak at conferences, schools, and libraries and teach writing for children at Lesley University's MFA program. Visit me at www.susangoodmanbooks.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
80 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book interesting, entertaining, and funny. They also say it has great facts and info and is a great gift for children.

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Entertainment valueHumor
14 customers mention "Entertainment value"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, entertaining, and funny. They also say it contains many fun facts and is great for kids.

"...The text and pictures are great, and there's plenty of trivia that's news to me...." Read more

"...My sister: not as thrilled, but it was truly an entertaining book, and reading it to them was even better. 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!" Read more

"Great book for kids. Contains many fun facts." Read more

"Gave this book as a Christmas gift to my God Son who is a GI doctor. Fun, but very interesting. Big smiles and a bit of learning for all!" Read more

5 customers mention "Humor"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the humor in the book interesting and funny.

"...When he's reading it just keeps him laughing. A very entertaining book and would recommend for children." Read more

"Very informative and funny. My 8 year old son likes it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has a sense of humor. :)" Read more

"Kid's book, but SO interesting and funny! We also got it for my 50+ norther. :). Very cute and educational!!" Read more

"This is a funny but also can be informational lol. My boys 5, 9 love it for reading time at home." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

SCheek
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and educational
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
I just bought my second copy. We had a softcover that lasted over 10 years and 5 kids, and friends. My teenagers still reference this book as they read it multiple times as children.
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ASE
5.0 out of 5 stars My little guy LOVES this book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
"The Truth About Poop" & "Gee Whiz! It's all About Pee"

First I bought "The Truth About Poop" for my almost-six-year-old boy. He LOVES it. He wants me to read it to him all the time. I followed up the purchase with "Gee Whiz! It's all About Pee" and it's another hit!

Since my little guy is almost six, I'm doing most of the reading, for now, but there are parts of the book that he can can "help" me read. Those parts will get bigger as his reading improves. The text and pictures are great, and there's plenty of trivia that's news to me.

I think all boys (and many girls) this age have a fascination with bodily functions. My kid also has a love of learning, science and "how things work" (me and his mom were both like that as kids). There are plenty of poop/pee/fart books for this age range (and I now own several), but for the scientifically inquisitive child these are the best I've found. The other books on these subjects provided some entertainment and amusement, but these are the two that he keeps asking for again and again.
5 people found this helpful
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Juliana
5.0 out of 5 stars Good factual, yet funny book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2014
Verified Purchase
Well...with sons ages 16-38, plus grandsons 6-10, have found they absolutely love these types of books!!! Have even seen our daughter and young granddaughters picking it up every once in a while - funny, facts about well..."poop" - ha!! Good book - especially for young to teenage boys. We have been very happy with the book, plus the service we received.
One person found this helpful
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Nim
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2012
Verified Purchase
I received the correct product. It was packaged appropriately and arrived on time. The product was also in the condition described. This was perfect for my 2 young nieces. My sister: not as thrilled, but it was truly an entertaining book, and reading it to them was even better. 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
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Mark A Rotella
5.0 out of 5 stars Makes you poop.
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2021
Verified Purchase
Awesome book! Makes me want to go, but better yet makes my kids want to go.
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khanspiracy
5.0 out of 5 stars nice
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2013
Verified Purchase
Got this as a gift for a friend who's a new parent. And got myself a copy too. Sweet.
Only quibble is that the Amazon packaging was a bit lacking. The book was packed without any padding, along with a bunch of other books. I opened the box with a key and ended up cutting a bit of the cover.
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Mary Weir
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great book for kids. Contains many fun facts.
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Zinna
4.0 out of 5 stars book
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
kids will find it funny for potty training
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