Friday 23 November 2012

Children's books about poo, farting, bums and underpants.

 The very mention of poo is enough to get many children giggling. Something about this topic delights young readers, and once again, anything that makes books desireable is a plus in my opinion. So here is the dirt on the very best books about poo.

1. The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business - Werner Holzwarth
The very best book ever about poo. This is one of our favourites, as my sons, like most young children find poo very entertaining. The main character is mole, who wakes up one morning to rather unpleasant surprise, just as he pokes his head out of his hole, a rather large poo plops down on his head. Mole spends the rest of the trying to find out who the culprit was. In his search he meets several different animals, who all give him a demonstration of how they eliminate waste. After a long and smelly day, mole at last finds the guilty party and takes revenge in kind, before retiring at last to his hole.

While some people might find this book a bit rude, crude, even distastful, those are just the qualities that make it so amusing to young children. My son laughed until he ahd tears in his eyes when we first got this book and even now it brings many a smile. A really delightful bedtime story - although perhaps not so well suited to mealtimes :) This is available in standard paperback, or a newer version, a board back with sound buttons. My sons do prefer the newer book - but the sounds are more musical than poo like in my opinion.

2. Bottoms Up - Jeanne Willis
This story starts with several small children carrying banners protesting nappies and asking "Why won't you let us run around in the nude?" In the next page the children move from nappies to pants, but this is not met with any happiness on the children's part. After all animals don't wear underwear do they? There is page after page of silly suggestions about different creatures in panties, knickers, bloomers etc... And of my sons very favourite part asking if wombats wonder if they must cover their ------. The answer is no of course "that would be silly". The book ends with the children stripping off and proudly displaying many bare bums.

Now from an adult point of view, this book may not seem terribly funny. In fact I'm sure a few people would find it in poor taste. To a two year old, the idea of all sorts of animals sticking out their underwear clad behinds is hilarious, but children taking their clothes off and mooning everyone is even more funny. My son knows this story by heart, but still can not listen to it without bursting into giggles.

  The text to this is very short, with a nice rhythm and rhyme to it which I think suits this age group especially well. There is also a picture of a child sitting on a potty which I think is good during the period when children are learning to use the toilet. The illustrations are really cute and very funny, especially to my son. he loves the pictures of the bear and elephant shaking their bums at everyone. Personally, I like the rather indignant look on the bullock wearing breeches.

We have had tis book for years now, and while it is not read as often as it once was, it still gets a laugh when it is brought out. I think this would best suit younger children perhaps 18 months - age 3, but my oldest did still have a laugh at age 6 - although at 7 he has completely outgrown it, and my 4 year does still keep this in our favourites book shelf.


3.The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas.
The story is about a very greedy little boy. He has mountains of toys but he wants so much more - so Santa Clause leaves him a very strange gift - a gigantic dinosaur egg with a very large dinosaur inside.  But for all the disgusting bits - and this book really is disgusting - it presents a message as well. Christmas is more than gifts and tinsel - what matters most at Christmas is the people you love - something Danny does come to realise - but is it too late?

Some very sensitive children might find some pages distressing- especially the part where Danny's family is eaten - but don't worry it will all come out in the end ---- literally. I don't think it can be taken as spoiler because the title clearly gives away the ending, but after eating everything from the Christmas Dinner and presents to Danny's family, pets and even Santa Claus the dinosaur finishes off by eating the whole house, leaving Danny alone in the snow.

The dinosaur is sorry and thinks of a way to fix things - so the dinosaur begins to poo..... and he poos and he poos and he poos. Out of his bum comes the house, the Christmas presents, Santa and his reindeer, Danny's family and even the Christmas dinner. Everything is back to the way it began - more or less. Except that it is covered in poop and rather brown and smelly. But Danny has learned his lesson and won't be so greedy next year, and the dinosaur has learned his lesson too - I gather pooping a house, reindeer and all the other bits and pieces might not be very pleasant - he won't be gobbling anything else up either.


4.Who's In The Loo
The story is very simple and told in a rhyming text. It begins with the question, "Who's in the loo" and offers several very entertaining guesses. Could it be an elephant having a poo? A poor frozen penguin whose pee has has turned to ice midstream? Each suggestion is illustrated in a manner that completely captivates the children, but my son's favourites are the very expressive rhino who is feeling the after effects of a hot curry, and a very naughty monkey who looks like he is dancing in the toilet. Each page is delightful though right up to a very cute ending.

My opinion of this book is that it is absolutely brilliant. Not only does it help interest children in reading and books, but I think it also helps demonstrate what a toilet is for and encourage the use of the loo. I especially like that the creators of this book are not frightened to show the characters using the toilet, or even a stream or puddle of pee. I think being unwilling to discuss such things could only make it harder for a child to learn to use the toilet, and I think children should see this as a natural activity, not something embarrassing.


5. Farley Farts
Farley farts is an exceptionally rude tale about a frog with a serious flatulence problem. The story begins with Farley sitting on a pot, with loo roll beside him, and has several PFFFOOOOTTT!'s No matter what Farley is doing, he is farting as well. Finally his teacher and parents have had enough, and Farley is told he must stop. Without passing the gas though, it builds up and Farley swells up like a huge balloon before floating up into the sky. Only one thing can save him - you guessed it - farting!

6. Potty Poo-Poo Wee-Wee! - Colin McNaughton
The story itself is very simple, everyone seems to want Littlesaurus to use the potty - but he uses it for everything except what he is meant to. Littlesauraus delights in singing at the top of his lungs "Potty Poo Poo Wee Wee!" and no amount of telling him "That's rude" will get him to stop. Of course at the end he does use the potty - but only when everyone gives up on making him do it ---- there could be a lesson for all of us grown ups there :)

A few others to consider : Aliens Love Underpants,  Dinosaurs Love Underpants, The Pop Up Book of Poo, Cinderella's Bum and Sing a Song of Bottoms!

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