Published: 07 Apr 2022
Publisher: Andersen Press
Illustrator: Marianna Coppo
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars
One day, Daddy Rat announces to his baby rats that he’ll be taking them to the zoo . . . but only if they’re good, which means no talking about poo! And yet, before the family can even leave the house, the two rascally siblings can’t help but wonder . . . what sort of poo would an astronaut do? Shiny, silver, space-age poo! Rocket-powered, weightless poo, and it spins round and round like a planet does, too!
Anyone who knows me knows I am an avid hater of picture books that fall into the lazy trap of farts, poop, and other bodily functions. I know the kids love them, but aside from being stupid, it’s also something celebrities easily get to publish and it feels like a storytelling cop out.
ANYWAY.
I know there can be good poop books, like the delightful The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business where our protagonist tries to find who pooped on his head. You wouldn’t think it adorable, but it is.
This is another one that balances a fine line. It is quite fun, our parent mouse is obviously sick of the kids always mentioning poo, and on their outing they have strict instructions to refrain from mentioning it.
I liked the work around the kids had, and I liked that their discussion of poo end up being fun imaginings of what it looks like from various people and animals they pass. I liked that tattooed people have tattooed poo, that balloon animal makers have balloon animal poo. I also liked the fun illustrations that match the poo to their shape.
In an easy to understand way, all the animals have the same kind of poo. This isn’t the place to learn about the different poos from butterflies and bats to snakes and people.
The story is told with a great rhyme. It’s a fun story that really plays into the taboo of poo and the sneaky ways the kids want to discuss it. The story isn’t all about jokes about poo. As the story goes on they discover what happens to the poo in the zoo and how it is used for growing plants and trees. It debunks the myth for the kids that’s there is anything special about poo, it’s the same for everyone, with a little bit of humour without taking it too far on the grotesque side.
Honestly, I can’t even believe I have typed and discussed poo so much in one review let alone at all, but here we are. Sometimes needs must.
If you’re like me and are sick and tired of the poo books, this one may be an ok compromise when the kids really want to laugh at the grubby side of things.
You can purchase Whose Poo? via the following
