Library Notes
Erika Kosin

Fact Filled books that will enthrall children but make their parents cringe

When children are looking for fun books to read, it has been found that some children, especially boys, prefer books with real facts and the more obscure and gross the information the better. So what type of books can you find that give interesting facts and also explore everything gross? Any book that involves bodily functions such as spit and poop, the inner workings of garbage, or even about underwear may fit the bill. Luckily, the Rowan Public Library has a few books like this in their children’s room, but don’t be fooled, children will also learn a few things while reading about what makes most of us squirm and cringe.

Fact filled books that will peak a child’s interest:
Getting to Know Your Toilet: The Disgusting Story Behind Your Home’s Strangest Feature by Connie Colwell Miller and Sewers and the Rats that Love Them: The Disgusting Story Behind Where it All Goes by Kelly Barnhill. - What did people use before the invention of toilet paper? Where did people go to the bathroom before the toilet bowl? Where does all of the waste go? Are there really Alligators living in the New York City Sewers? How do Sewers work and if they smell so bad, why do we have them? While answering these questions, children will also learn how a toilet works, the history of how the toilet became a fixture in most households, why proper waste disposal is important, and why washing their hands after using the toilet will help stop the spread of germs.

Do You Know Where Your Water has Been?: The Disgusting Story Behind What You’re Drinking by Kelly Barnhill - Children discover the reason why treating drinking water is important and how it is unsafe to drink from a lake or other water source.

Garbage, Waste, Dumps and You: The Disgusting Story Behind What We Leave Behind by Connie Colwell Miller - Learn the history of Garbage collection and what happens to the garbage after it leaves your house.

Underwear: What We Wear Under There by Ruth Freeman Swain - From the loincloth to pantaloons and long johns, children can now learn what people wore under their clothing years ago.

It’s Spit-acular!: The Secrets of Saliva by Melissa Stewart - Ever wonder why you salivate when you smell food? Did you know that humans create enough saliva to fill 1-2 two liter bottles every day? This book explores the different uses of saliva, establishing how it is important to humans and other animals.