All the Dirt: A History of Getting Clean

Gr 3–7—Ashenburg draws on her adult book The Dirt on Clean to delight the school-age set with a chronological history (mainly Western) of the myths and rituals that have dictated human cleanliness from ancient through modern times. Readers will learn about this odd, and sometimes backward-progressing, history. For instance, Roman emperors constructed lavish imperial baths for the common man, but European rulers of the Middle Ages (and their successors all the way up to the 18th century) discouraged their subjects from bathing. The writing has a humorous tone as it marches through centuries of steam houses, public baths, and street side showers to innovations in soap, shampoo, and toothbrushes. Stylized fonts are used throughout to delineate the chapter topics and side stories, while photos and illustrations reinforce the text. This is similar in topic to Patricia Lauber's picture book What You Never Knew About Tubs, Toilets, and Showers, though more detailed.