Poop Happened!

Albee, Sarah. Poop Happened!
Bloomsbury see St. Martins 2010 170p 15.99
978-0-8027-2077-1 elm/ms VG-BN
There are really three things of which you can be certain: death, taxes, and poop. Poop does happen and, most often, in great quantities. This fascinating book deals with historical perspective of poop beginning with the change from nomadic life to settled urban centers. The societies that learned how to deal with the disposal of these mammoth piles of excrement in a safe and sanitary way were the ones that escaped mass epidemics and enormous human death tolls. This fascinating book deals with historical perspective of poop beginning with the change from nomadic life to settled urban centers. Albee discusses the social history and evolution of civilization from Moses’ injunction to carry a shovel and bury “that which cometh from thee” through Crete, Egypt, Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, and on to nineteenth century England and America. Replete with immense amounts of factual information, interesting and informative supplements, drawings, photographs, poop timelines, euphemisms for poop words, “Hygiene Heroes and “Icky Occupations” sidebars, the challenges to public health are explained in a humorous way that will both entertain and inform. She adds just enough “yuckiness” to attract young readers and lead them into further exploration of a serious problem that still exists in large parts of the world today and to make this a book in high demand. The book ends with chapter notes and an index.
This is a highly recommended purchase for all middle school libraries. Ogintz, Susan
Toilets-history