Flatulence, animal droppings, and toilet training: a guide to books in our collections

farts

'Animal droppings -- Juvenile literature’, ‘Flatulence -- Pictorial works -- Juvenile fiction’ and 'Flatulence -- Juvenile literature’. ‘Buttocks – Juvenile fiction’. 

Aren’t library subject-headings fascinating? To support our upcoming Storytime we have a perfect opportunity to highlight relevant titles we have on the subject, for all audiences and age-levels I might add.
In all seriousness though, if you are after some literature on healthy bowel motions, I would suggest a quick discrete search here and perhaps a visit to your GP. 

Alrighty, on to the books! First up, Sharlene Poole's Toddler Whispering: 1 to 5, the preschool years (2020). Being a New Zealander with a chapter devoted to toilet training, you've got to trust her right? I personally would if I were going through this again with my own first child.

We also have a number of books in our parenting collection (as well as our picture book collection) on toilet training that are worth checking out. These books are about learning to use the wharepaku that can be read with your child.
Catalogue link to titles in parenting collection 
Catalogue link to titles in picture and board books 

Which brings us to Stephanie Blake’sPoo Bum. Published by Gecko Press in 2011 translated from French (originally titled ‘Caca boudin’ and published in Paris in 2002) this has been a stand-out read aloud for over ten years. There was a time when I would purchase this for all families with a child turning four years old. A rabbit who’s only words spoken are  ‘Poo Bum’? Honestly, you can’t go wrong with this one. 

Did you hear back in March about the controversial firing of an assistant principal in the US after reading a New Zealand children’s book to young students? Well, it was our own Dawn McMillan, with her gem of a book (and series)I need a new bum! 
 
We have two copies of this available as an e-book, both with Libby and e-platform as well a print copy. I also highly recommend TVNZ’s animated read-along with Jeremy Wells’ on their Goodnight Kiwi series.  

Of course, there are also kids chapter books that have been produced on the topic. Fartboy by Adam Wallace anyone? Andy Griffiths’ Bum trilogy? (that’s the actual series name by the way).   

And now on to factual and informative books for the kids. My favourite I found so far was Does it fart? written by Nick Caruso (2019).  Starting with a caveat (located in a cartoonesque fart cloud no less), ‘This is a book about farts’, it’s filled with fun facts about 18 different animals all starting with the question posed to the reader, ‘Does it fart?’ Turn the page over and you are presented with the answer. I enjoyed it immensely. And funnily enough, this edition here was published two years after one intended for an adult audience.  

For a list of all books we hold on these topics, head back up to the subject headings at the top of this post.  
 
Happy reading, whānau! 

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