 Imagine
yourself wearing a suit of armor in the middle ages. How would you go to the
bathroom?  When did indoor plumbing
become popular? What do astronauts do when they need to relieve themselves? Poop
Happened: A History of the World from
the Bottom Up by Sarah Albee is an amazing book that will take readers back
through time to answer burning questions about how and where people went to the
bathroom. Once you start reading, you’ll be fascinated by how bathroom etiquette
and practices have changed over time. I had no idea that there were so many
jobs relating to emptying chamber pots, wiping bottoms, and removing
waste. Plus, there were many situations
I hadn’t thought about before- but they really opened my eyes to what life was
like in a variety of times throughout history.
Imagine
yourself wearing a suit of armor in the middle ages. How would you go to the
bathroom?  When did indoor plumbing
become popular? What do astronauts do when they need to relieve themselves? Poop
Happened: A History of the World from
the Bottom Up by Sarah Albee is an amazing book that will take readers back
through time to answer burning questions about how and where people went to the
bathroom. Once you start reading, you’ll be fascinated by how bathroom etiquette
and practices have changed over time. I had no idea that there were so many
jobs relating to emptying chamber pots, wiping bottoms, and removing
waste. Plus, there were many situations
I hadn’t thought about before- but they really opened my eyes to what life was
like in a variety of times throughout history. 
If you enjoy learning about the past and like to discover unique
facts, then this is the book for you! The story of poop throughout the ages
really made me think. I am definitely happy to live during a time and place
where I have running water and an indoor toilet. Boy, bathroom issues were just
one of the struggles people have had since the beginning of time. I especially
like that the book had lots of historical information and longer sections to
read, but text boxes and sidebars were sprinkled throughout the text. It’s possible to read every word or just enjoy snippets to give yourself an idea about
this interesting topic. At close to 200 pages, this isn’t a book you will want
to read all in one sitting. Still, you'll want to share the facts you learn
with others, but based on the topic you’ll need to find the right place
and time to sprinkle them into a conversation. A great way to get kids interested in non-fiction writing
because it shows that you can write about anything you're curious about. A
bonus- this author visited my school and was fabulous. She is really
entertaining and with over 75 books she helped get us excited about research and note taking. I recommend this to anyone eight years old and up. 
Has anyone else read Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom? Or have you read another book by Sarah Albee? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Happy Reading!
~ L
Catch the book trailer!

 

