Fairday's Riddle: A Classic Bunch...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? A twist to the week you'll think is great. 😉 ~ F

A classic bunch is what we are. Grouped together, we're going far. Our names are known throughout the land; our stories passed hand to hand. When on tour, we share our lines, which point you toward literary signs— Alice feels a bit lost, Anne imagines at all cost, girls grow up to be little women, Tom takes off to go swimming, Buck is wild, Victor makes sparks, a knight and squire leave their marks. Five more travel with us too. Tuesday we've a surprise for you! 

What am I referring to? You'll be delighted to find out Tuesday! 

I gave you a clue!

The Scoop on Poop!

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!