Macaulay, David. Toilet: How It Works.

Macaulay, David.  Toilet: How It Works.  Macmillan/Farrar St  paperback  2013  32p  $3.99  ISBN 978-1-59643-780-7  elem/ms  Nonfiction  E-BN 

     

In this gem of a book, Macaulay explains how toilets work through his words and his pictures.  Every aspect of the mechanics of toilets is explained clearly, from the inner construction of the commode in your home to the workings of a major sewage system.  The slightly humorous tone is perfect for the subject, and the illustrations complement the explanations in a very helpful way.  People of any age will learn from this well-written book.

This reviewer has a major quibble with the glossary in the back of the book, in which the part of speech of the word being defined does not always match the part of speech of the definition.  For example, the definition of “aeration” (a noun ) is given as “to add air” (a verb).  A more proper definition would have been “the addition of air.”  There were a few others as well, in which the parts of speech didn’t match.  In a book of this caliber, the glossary should be perfect.

Summary: In this gem of a book, Macaulay explains how toilets work through his words and his pictures.

Toilets, Plumbing, Sewage                                         --Carol Kennedy