A Stinky History of Toilets: Flush with Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries

Gr 3-6–A dive into the peculiar history of how humans disposed of their excrement. Beginning with facts on how much humans poop and the contents of our stool, this title swiftly moves to the most important question: what do we do with all this poop? Meikle and Nelson discuss where and how people chose to use the bathroom, bathroom habits throughout history (the ancient Romans had a 60-seater toilet in which they all used the same sponge to “clean up”), sewers, toilet paper, and how the modern toilet came to be. It’s a very interesting but disgusting look at human waste throughout history. Each page is packed with colorful illustrations, often with humorous dialogue from characters. The authors include different cultural practices, such as squatting toilets and the use of bidets. Information on Islamic laws regarding defecating is also featured in a sidebar. Back matter includes a glossary and index.