Book Buds Kidlit Reviews

GROSS-OUT WEEK This book is really crap

Poop: A History of the Unmentionable
by Nicola Davies; illustrated by Neal Layton

Candlewick Press

Oh yeah, a POOP book. Kids won't like that, will they? I mean, it's only a wee-sized book about POOP, not anything designed to appeal to kids, whom we all know prefer to read about nice, clean subjects, like manners and respecting grown-ups and how not to insist in a whiny voice that you must read them a book about POOP right now, pleeeeez.

Ach. I'm disowning both of them.

Did you know that poop gets its nauseating hue from all the colors of our food blending in our intestines? See? An art lesson. And blue whales have pink poop. You can tell all about animals from their poop. F'rinstance, cute bunny wabbits EAT THEIR OWN POOP. Right out of their butts.

Oh yeah, kids will just hate this. And those scribbly, colorful drawings just like a kid would make? They'll hate that too.

In fact, between this and the parasite book, I predict Davies and Layton will have no sales whatsoever and be forced to take up a useful, productive hobby, like re-teaching my kids manners now that they ask for POOP at the dinner table. Gah.

Rating: *\*\*\

GROSS-OUT WEEK Don't bug me

What's Eating You? Parasites -- The Inside Story
by Nicola Davies; illustrated by Neal Layton

Candlewick Press

Ew! Ew! Ew! Need I say more? Ew!

I'm not showing this one to my kids. Nightmare time! At least for Mom.

In 60 stomach-churning pages, we learn all about the critters who make their home in fur, hair, tummies and, oh, gawd, I can't go on. Want to know the grossest? Me neither.

There are lots of, uh, fun facts on parasites of every size and disposition, from how they find their hosts to where they set up camp. I got a serious case of the ickies, and you will too, but there's some useful info on how to avoid them.

It's more of a novelty book, so it's compact and easily lost. Hooray. There's not much else to say. Just shudder, shut it, and tuck it under the rug for the fleas to find.

Rating: *\*\*\

Conception -- what a concept!

Where Willy Went

by Nicholas Allen

Willy Brown’s a sperm. Yes, a sperm. One of 300 million, in fact, though he has trouble counting that high. That’s okay, all he needs is one talent: to wag his microscopic tail faster than his rivals. There’s a chuckle a page in this frank – but not graphic – first book about sex.

Allen leaves just enough details to the imagination to make this a safe read even for squeamish parents. His warmth and humor add to the sense of magic about what happens after Willy makes the Great Swim from Mr. to Mrs. Brown.

Rating: *\*\*\*\