Sh** Happens.

Sh** Happens

My family is convinced I keep a poo diary.

As a young(ish) first-time mother, I was a bit over concerned with certain aspects of taking care of a baby when my son was born – namely, his soiled nappies. I followed the maxim that if whatever went in one end came out the other end in proper form, then everything was fine.

Fifteen years later and my family still tease me about keeping track of every bowel movement. (I swear I didn’t).

When we got our German Shepherd puppy last May, we had some trouble finding him the right food. He kept getting diarrhea. Several vet visits and rounds of feeding him boiled chicken and rice, we finally figured out it was either the chicken or the rice and now feed him neither. And of course, I was once again checking output every day. And enduring the endless poo diary jokes.

Which is why I was thrilled to find the book Poop Happened (Walker Children’s 2010) by Sarah Albee, a writer who obviously understands the importance of poo.

 From Goodreads:

History finally comes out of the water-closet in this exploration of how people’s need to relieve themselves shaped human development from ancient times to the present. Throughout time, the most successful civilizations were the ones who realized that everyone poops, and they had better figure out how to get rid of it! From the world’s first flushing toilet invented by ancient Minoan plumbers to castle moats in the middle ages that used more than just water to repel enemies, Sarah Albee traces human civilization using one revolting yet fascinating theme.

A blend of historical photos and humorous illustrations bring the answers to these questions and more to life, plus extra-gross sidebar information adds to the potty humor. This is bathroom reading kids, teachers, librarians, and parents won’t be able to put down!

I wasn’t able to put it down, despite the wisecracks and giggles from my family. Yes, it’s a gross subject, but definitely worth reading about.

And now I must ask you to excuse me, I suddenly feel the urge to go wash my hands…