IF YOU ARE A KAKA, YOU EAT DOO DOO

Who knew there could be so many words for animal poo?

Feces, scat, meconium, guano, frass, honeydew—and their relatives, defecate, cloaca, anus, anal tube—not only are there many words, there are many uses for poo in the natural world. In this appealing celebration, a wide and wonderful range of animals explains how they use fecal material for communication, defense, cooling, decoration, and even food. Each spread focuses on a different species. These animals directly address readers, using the words “we” and “why” to explain their habits. Speech bubbles explain details in the digital illustrations, and an additional paragraph or two, in a smaller font, add further information. The cast of characters includes creatures from around the world. From hairy-nosed wombats to doodlebugs, there are familiar species, such as chickadees and sloths, and unusual ones, such as golden tortoise beetles, blind cave salamanders, and shoebills. Most pages show more than one creature, and each is unusually well-identified—even with Latin names—in an index illustrated with thumbnail images. The backmatter also has a glossary of italicized words used in the text, including that impressive array of synonyms, and an essay describing human uses, including the possibility of poo-powered planes.

Doo-doo rush out to get copies; these will shoot off the shelves.