From fish farts to how animal poop helps fight the climate crisis, these STEM books will inform and satisfy readers who enjoy super-cool titles about the slimy and disgusting.

Brunelle, Lynn. Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature. illus. by Julia Patton. Lerner/Millbrook. 2024. ISBN 9781728492506.

Gr 4-6–While haikus and ickiness may not seem like the most obvious pairing, this book uses revolting facts to provide a surprisingly engaging dose of science. Brunelle cleverly uses the spareness of the haiku form to showcase nature facts that range from the scatological to the morbid to the just plain alien. For some budding naturalists, this book may spark a particular kind of fascination with the less splendorous, but equally interesting, parts of the natural world. VERDICT For readers who don’t get queasy easily and are interested in how weird nature can get. 

Crow-Miller, Britt. World of Rot: Learn All about the Wriggly, Slimy, Super-Cool Decomposers We Couldn’t Live Without. illus. by Bruno Valasse. Storey. 2024. ISBN 9781635866698.

 Gr 4 Up–With humor and exceptional graphics, this book shares the importance of rot while also delivering an entertaining read. Definitions and specifics are the tools Crow-Miller uses to explain this disgusting and stinky world. Middle graders will be fascinated and motivated to read more by learning that pill bugs eat from both ends, dead whales are explosive, and butterflies get together to eat rot as a “puddle club.” The illustrations will draw in readers while the information will keep them engaged, if for nothing more than the gross factor. VERDICT This is a worthy book for budding scientists and kids who appreciate slimy details. Fact mongers will be inspired. 

Kreloff, Elliot. Ooo...Poo! illus. by Elliot ­Kreloff. Collective Book Studio. 2024. ISBN 9781685556372.

PreS-Gr 1–Children are fascinated by bodily functions, and this book endeavors to capture that need to know with a plethora of poo-related information. A cat and a fox, illustrated in bright collage illustrations, find poo in all sorts of places, starting with the sidewalk. From that encounter, they travel from location to location, including the zoo and the ocean, discovering different types of feces and the creatures that produce them. Eventually they discover what happens to the waste and how human waste is safely treated, as well as other ways waste is useful in the world. VERDICT An interesting collection of basic poop information with illustrations that will engage young readers wanting to know more. 

Lorencen, Vicky. The Big Book of Barf: A Spewnami of Sick Science, Hurled History, and Body Oddities. illus. by Remy Simard. Random/Bright Matter. 2025. ISBN 9780593707913.

Gr 4-7–Chuck, Professor Anita Puke, and Queezy (who resembles a cartoonlike stomach) are three upbeat characters who take readers on an alphabetically organized journey through everything barf-related. Each letter has its own chapter and begins with a list of terms synonymous with vomiting that begin with that letter. Brightly colored cartoon illustrations contribute to the lighthearted, humorous vibe. VERDICT With an unending stream of puns, rhymes, and corny dad jokes with some interesting science mixed in, this is sure to appeal to reluctant readers or kids who are attracted to the grosser aspects of life. 

Meikle, Olivia & Katie Nelson. A Stinky History of Toilets: Flush with Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries. illus. by Ella Kasperowicz. Neon Squid. 2024. ISBN 9781684493739.

Gr 3-6–A dive into the peculiar history of how humans disposed of their excrement. Beginning with facts on how much humans poop and the contents of our stool, this title swiftly moves to the most important question: what do we do with all this poop? Meikle and Nelson discuss where and how people chose to use the bathroom, bathroom habits throughout history (the ancient Romans had a 60-seater toilet in which they all used the same sponge to “clean up”), sewers, toilet paper, and how the modern toilet came to be. Each page is packed with colorful illustrations, often with humorous dialogue from characters. The authors include different cultural practices, such as squatting toilets and the use of bidets. VERDICT Silly, gross, and informative. Recommended for elementary collections. 

Montgomery, Heather L. Sick!: The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs. illus. by Lindsey Leigh. Bloomsbury. 2024. ISBN 9781547609857.

Gr 4-8–Parasites, bacteria, and viruses (aka germs) affect animals just like they affect humans. Montgomery takes readers on a deep dive into the animal world examining the myriad ways that animals fight back against germs or how they protect themselves in the first place. There are ample illustrations and many comic strip–like panels that work with the chatty text to create an engaging whole. What can we learn from the habits of animals? How do chimps know to self-medicate by eating bitter mjonso leaves when they are feeling poorly? Why can vultures eat rotten food and not get sick? Montgomery explains the work of scientists who are exploring these questions. VERDICT Visually engaging and with approachable text, Sick! is chock-full of super interesting information about animals and is recommended for middle school science collections.

Ridge, Yolanda. What Poo Can Do: How Animals Are Fighting the Climate Crisis. Orca. 2024. ISBN 9781459835412.

Gr 4-7–How does animal poop combat the climate crisis? It turns out it does so in many ways. Ridge explains how whales release nutrient-rich clouds of poop in the ocean that support the growth of phytoplankton (a microscopic plant that absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen through photosynthesis, thereby reducing greenhouse gases). Another example includes the annual migration of wildebeests in the Serengeti—their poop helps fertilize grasses and trees along the migratory path, as well as facilitates the distribution of seeds so more carbon-reducing plants can grow. Ridge also provides readers with concrete actions they can take to fight climate change. VERDICT A humorous way to engage with a serious topic.

Settel, Joanne. Fish Farts: And Other Amazing Ways Animals Adapt. illus. by Natasha Donovan. S. & S./Atheneum. 2024. ISBN 9781665918831.

Gr 2-6–Get ready to dive into the “sticky, stinky, and slimy” world of animal adaptations. This fascinating book is packed with intriguing facts about the weird and wonderful ways animals survive and thrive. This book showcases the incredible diversity of animal tricks and traps, from the titular fish farts to a Komodo dragon covering itself in poop. Settel’s engaging writing makes complex concepts accessible and entertaining, while Donovan’s vibrant digital illustrations bring the gross and amazing facts to life. What sets this volume apart is its ability to balance humor with education, making it an absolute delight for readers of all ages. VERDICT With its unique blend of science, humor, and visual appeal, this is a must-read for anyone curious about the natural world. 

Wood, Chelsea L. Power to the Parasites! illus. by Dave Mottram. Macmillan/Godwin. 2024. ISBN 9781250833983.

 Gr 5 Up–Wood, a parasitologist, walks readers through the good, bad, and ugly in this nonfiction book about parasites. The book opens with an introduction in which the author details how she first became interested in and ultimately chose to spend her career studying parasites. Part I largely shares information about specific parasites in nature and their host animals. Part II brings parasites up close and personal as Wood details the intersection of parasites and humans (specifically through a look at the Black Death), and parasites in food and pets. The book’s humor makes it very readable, even though the content is at times technical and somewhat disturbing. Wood does not shy away from explaining how parasites can be bad, but are also good in certain situations. VERDICT The technical information on parasites presented in this book is accessible through the use of humor and illustrations, making it a solid choice for libraries serving middle grade students.

Virnig, Christine. Waist-Deep in Dung: A Stomach-Churning Look at the Grossest Jobs Throughout History. illus. by Korwin Briggs. Macmillan/Godwin. 2024. ISBN 9781250762351.

Gr 4-7–Readers will learn about the most disgusting jobs in history in this title. The first part of this book focuses on jobs dealing with blood and medicine, such as resurrection men, Egyptian embalmers, leech collectors, and the jack-of-all-trades called a barber surgeon. Virnig’s tone is conversational and fun while delivering facts about each of these unusual and frequently repulsive job opportunities. The second part includes even grosser jobs dealing with feces, urine, and vomit. Kids will find they could have been a dining room attendant who frequently cleaned the vomit of the attendees off the floor or a gongfermor who jumped into cesspits to clean out human waste. Part two includes information on tanners, grooms of the stool, and saltpeter men, among others. VERDICT Middle schoolers will enjoy the gross factor while learning of jobs seldom discussed.