Who Gives a Poop?: Surprising Science from One End to the Other

Description

Scientists, engineers, veterinarians, even college students--people all over the world are discovering the power of poop. A guy in England powers a street lamp with pet poo. A scientist uses scat to solve the mystery of a vanishing cave-dwelling critter. Undergrads turn astronaut waste into plastic - for use as a wrench on Mars! Poop, doo-doo, scat, feces, whatever you call it, it's everywhere. And it's disgusting. But in this book, you'll see that this waste is packed with potential. It's a window into the world of wildlife, and some people are willing to go to extremes to make use of this so-called crap. One woman spent three months videotaping elephants, giraffes, and rhinos pooping in the zoo. In a quest for precious cheetah poo another scientist army-crawled through the mud risking her life between an adult elephant and a water buffalo. And every week an entire team of folks swallow their pride and deliver their own poop to medical facilities. There, someone swirls, separates, and ships it off to a hospital to be transplanted into another human. In journalistic style similar to Something Rotten, this middle grade narrative nonfiction follows the author as she asks the question: Who uses poo? Although it is packed with potty humor, this narrative holds weighty matter too: The discovery of a nutrient cycle that powers the ocean ecosystem. Solutions for the energetic needs of our society. Poo even has the power to save human lives.

Heather L. Montgomery has taught for over 20 years (both inside and outside the classroom) as well as directed a school-based environmental center. She has written curriculum; trained hundreds of teachers, naturalists, and librarians; and, helped thousands of children to make friends with the natural world. Each year, she works directly with over ten thousand children at festivals, school visits, and at environmental centers. During a typical presentation, petrified body parts and tree guts encourage scientific thinking and inspire reluctant readers. Her professional development programs for teachers have won awards and rave reviews. She lives in Ardmore, Alabama. www.heatherlmontgomery.com/

The discoveries that arise from our flattened fauna will amaze you! . . . For all the literal blood and guts. . . there's nothing rotten about this book--it's a keeper. * Starred review, Kirkus Reviews on Something Rotten * With wry humor, gory detail, and great enthusiasm, . . . this book is not for the faint of heart, but be prepared to laugh along the way and to learn a lot. . . Sure to be a hit among students. A top addition to STEM collections. * Starred review, School Library Journal on Something Rotten * . . . [A]n extremely interesting treatise about roadkill and how it affects all our lives. . . . Montgomery inspires curiosity, asks excellent questions, and makes science and investigating roadkill fascinating to learn. * Starred review, School Library Connection on Something Rotten * [B]udding naturalists or eco-activists will find it a smashing read. * Booklist on Something Rotten *