Perma-Bound from Publisher's Hardcover ©2018 | -- |
Publisher's Hardcover ©2018 | -- |
Animal droppings. Juvenile literature.
Feces. Juvenile literature.
Animal behavior. Juvenile literature.
Animal droppings.
Feces.
Animal behavior.
There's quite a lot here to digest. In a mix of rhymed general statements and, in smaller type, pithy prose explanations, Kurtz drops nuggets of information about what poop is, how the excrement of a dozen types of zoo animals differs in shape and composition, what said animals do with their poop in nature, and the many ways zoos (and gardeners) study and recycle all those tons of "zoo-doo." She closes with the provocative observation that more intelligent and socialized primates tend to fling their poop with more accuracy than their duller cohorts , perhaps, "a form of communication and self-expression." Reflecting what young readers will be doing by this point, Black illustrates the author's final sally with a troop of heartily laughing monkeys. In fact, all the creatures in these brightly colored cartoon illustrations, even the earthworms, are smiling. So are most of the notably diverse cast of human workers (a few pooper-scoopers look understandably beleaguered), as befits both the topic and the tone of this fresh scoop on poop.
Horn BookKurtz describes the feces of zoo animals, emphasizing the wide variety of textures, shapes, and smells in a lighthearted yet information-oriented manner. Key features are highlighted in the main rhyming text at the top of each page, while additional information can be found in secondary prose on the bottom. The friendly, smiling zoo creatures and their dung are displayed in colorful cartoonlike images.
Kirkus ReviewsCountless zoo books line the shelves, but how often does one discuss animal manure—and how a zoo discards it?Employing the page turn to great effect from the very start, Kurtz is bound to get youngsters' attention: "At zoo after zoo / the animals chew. / And then … // they poo!" Quick rhymes in boldface type across the top make simple statements about each animal's toilet habits. "Sloths creep down from trees to poop, / but only once a week. / A penguin shoots its poo out / in a fishy-smelling streak." Smaller text below offers more in-depth facts: "Why do sloths spend so much energy leaving the protection of trees to poop on the ground? It's a mystery scientists are trying to solve." Black's wide-eyed, expressive animals have personality, but they never cross over to cartoony garishness. After exploring 12 different zoo dwellers, Kurtz then turns her focus to the large amount of poo that accumulates at a zoo every day. What do they do with it? Much is trucked to landfills, but zoos also study it in labs to help understand their animals better. Plus, there are compost options and even elephant-poo paper! A slapdash ending is the only misstep, but the atypical subject matter will surely shine.A scatological success. (Informational picture book. 3-8)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)Kurtz (
K-Gr 2 This nonfiction read-aloud for the younger set will have kids in giggles. Each page features rhyming text that describes a different animal's waste product, with more information at the bottom of the page. Kurtz also details exactly what zoos do with all that waste: take it to the dump, use it for research, or sell it as compost. The rhyming aspect makes this an excellent choice for preschool students. Insightful details about animal poop strike a smart balance between amusement and fact-based trivia (e.g., wombat poop is cube-shaped). Black's high-contrast, bouncy artwork accurately depicts the narrative and will enhance readers' understanding. The playful geometric digital illustrations pop with color and have a lot of kid appeal. Human characters appear only briefly. While not an in-depth study, kids will be having so much fun they won't notice they're learning. VERDICT A humorous addition to most nonfiction collections. Richelle Rose, Kenton County Public Library, KY
ALA Booklist (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Horn Book
Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
School Library Journal (Tue May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)
Wilson's Children's Catalog
Find out what happens to all of the poo at the zoo in this funny and factual picture book!
There are so many different kinds of animals at the zoo, and they each make lots and lots (and sometimes LOTS!) of poo. So what do zoos do with all of that poo? This zany, fact-filled romp explores zoo poo, from cube-shaped wombat poo to white hyena scat, and all of the places it ends up, including in science labs and elephant-poo paper—even backyard gardens!