A Stinky History of Toilets: Flush with Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries

by Olivia Meikle, Katie Nelson, Ella Kasperowicz (Illustrations)

You sit on it every day, but how much do you really know about your toilet? Discover the history of pooping and peeing in this frankly disgusting nonfiction book.

Authors Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle have scoured the toilet bowls and sewers of the world to find out how humans have done their business throughout history. It’s time to get to the bottom of toilets! Prepare to be revolted by:

• A fossilized Viking turd discovered by archaeologists
• The Mongol catapult used to fling smelly poop at their enemies
• The reason ancient Romans used pee to wash their clothes

Filled with poop facts and vomit-inducing stats, you will also learn how diseases like cholera spread through bad sanitation, why some of the earliest toilets had a tendency to explode, and how medieval kings and queens had special helpers to wipe their bums.

Featuring hilarious illustrations by Ella Kasperowicz, it’s a history book like no other!

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Picture Books, Audiobook, Humor, Science, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2024

Reviews

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about the history of toilets. Scottish mechanic Alexander Cumming invented the S-bend, still used in many toilets today, in which standing water blocks noxious smells from coming up sewage pipes. But I also enjoyed learning about the future of toilets. The Gates Foundation is funding a toilet that generates enough energy from human waste to charge a phone.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stinky History Of Toilets, flush with fun facts and disgusting discoveries bye Olivia Makel, Katie Nelson and neon squid is a gross but also interesting read or listen in my case. It was only about a half an hour long but packed full of fun facts in history that will not only grows out your friends but may and press them as well. From when the toilet was invented to what we did with the waist before they even talk about all the things they can tell from a persons output all the way back to the Vikings I also learned that it’s becoming more popular for men not to be the only ones who relieve their self standing up. I love history and I think this book proves it lol! In all honesty I was truly entertained I thought the narrator did a great job I do want to say you could definitely tell they were more than one rider on the book because some facts were repeated and I think that’s more a bad editor as opposed to the rider because somethings were said in jest or in passing but it was said more than one time. It didn’t happen often enough that it ruined my listening and I’m still giving the short but fun read five stars. If you love history about anything and everything then you will definitely love this book . I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Afterglow Earring Co · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Stinky History of Toilets" by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson, with illustrations by Ella Kasperowicz, is a hilarious deep dive into the world of toilets. It's not your typical history book—it's more like a journey through the gross and surprisingly fascinating side of human waste.

I mean, who knew that archaeologists have actually found fossilized Viking turds? Or that the Mongols used catapults to fling poop at their enemies? It's the kind of stuff that makes you say, "Wait, what?"

But "A Stinky History of Toilets" doesn't just focus on the weird and wacky. It also delves into the science behind sanitation and the not-so-pleasant consequences of bad hygiene. You'll learn about diseases like cholera and why some of the earliest toilets had a nasty habit of exploding.

And let's not forget about the illustrations by Ella Kasperowicz. While I listened to the audiobook version, I can only imagine how much they add to the experience. I bet they're both hilarious and informative, just like the rest of the book.

Speaking of which, the audiobook narration and background music really bring the stories to life. It's like sitting around a campfire with friends, swapping gross but strangely fascinating facts about toilets.

Overall, "A Stinky History of Toilets" is a fun and easy read that will leave you both entertained and educated. Whether you're a history buff or just someone who enjoys a good poop joke, this book is sure to make you laugh out loud.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on audio with my homeschooled children as part of the @librofm #alc program. This nonfiction book is hilarious and it worked well on audio but I still think I might purchase it or borrow it from the public library so we can see the pictures. It's a great history resource for classrooms and homeschoolers as well, covering those little tidbits that are often overlooked in the history books - how DID people use the bathroom before flushing toilets and underground sewer systems? Humanity has been very creative!

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5 stars

A silly, short read about everything TOILET. Yes, everything. Filled with historical potty humour. Poop, pee, farting, squatting, outhouses -even social GROUP outhouses-, fetal bacterium and parasites, sewage, just to name a few. This book has it all. Prepare to be educated!

Narration was perfect. Wouldn’t change a thing.

Appropriate for ages 8+, IMO.

(I received this ALC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you.)

[Allie Tribbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gross yet funny!

[Marizabeth Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a poop connoisseur now 🧐💩.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

After listening to the audiobook- I’m not sure if this would be better to read as a physical book. What pictures accompany the hilarious facts? The audiobook did offer a funny soundtrack to the narrator.

[Eli Ramirez]

És una meravella :D ple d'històries i anècdotes sobre els vàters i la caca.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy provided by the Publisher

Sarah Albee's fantastic 2011 Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom Up includes just about everything this new title does, but with more detail. For readers who are more inclined toward shorter snippets of information as well as colorful, infographic style illustrations, this is just as informative, and a tiny bit sillier.

If you're familiar with the classic Taro Gomi Everyone Poops from 1981, you will not be surprised that there are lots of pictures of poop, done in a somewhat similar style. That will be a big draw for younger readers, who find much humor in this, but the real value is in the complete history of the development of toilets and attendant sanitary facilities. This goes around the world and talks about the differences in practices, and how sometimes people are at odds over these.

Everything from the well known practices of the Romans, to the Viking midden at Jorvik, to a brief description of John Snow's work with cholera is presented with statistics, maps, and lots of facts. Sure, there are lots of pictures of people sitting on toilets with their pants around their ankles, but if King Louis of France could entertain people in his throne room like this, there's no reason these circumspect illustrations can't point out how things have changed in the world of lavatories.

Middle school and elementary school libraries need this as a nonfiction accompaniment to all of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants books, along with Yomtov's The Gross, Grimy History of the Toilet, Perdew's How the Toilet Changed History, and Marsico's Stinky Sanitation Inventions, and Gregory's 2006 collection of photographs of Toilets of the World.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What child doesn’t love potty humor? Just the word “poop” can cause hysterical laughter among the grade school set. And this book has it all- everything you ever or never wanted to know about human excretion. I had originally figured this was a book for young children, but there is far too much well researched information going back even to earlier civilizations to interest a toddler. Even sewage disposal and water treatment is described. So are toilet habits and rituals among various ethnicities.

I recommend this fast paced, interesting investigation of an important part of the human experience for children starting with the middle years of grade school and older. I learned some facts I was unfamiliar with too regarding customs, cleanliness rituals, and indoor/ outdoor locations deemed suitable for going potty. School librarians might want to have a few copies. I listened to the audio version which was very well done but oh did I wish I had pictures to go along with the words. Publication date is March 5, 2024. I received an ARC audio copy courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan audio in exchange for this honest review.

[Neils Barringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was delightfully fun! Was I totally grossed out, but hey I am a dietitian and talk about poop all day, so this book spoke my language.
I had so much fun learning about Toliets, Poop and what happens to all the poop in the world! Like did you know humans produce 200 pyramids worth of poop each year, and each human poops about 25 apples worth of weight per year. There were so many fun facts, definately great conversation starters.
I think kids will really enjoy this book. I have not met a kid outside of maybe Frasier or Niles Crane that doesn't love a good fart/poop joke.
The only reason I held back a star rating would be I would highly suggest purchasing a physical copy or kindle because I would imagine the images/diagrams would enhance the enjoyment.
If you need a fun book to entertain the kids (and yourself) go out and grab a copy on March 5, 2024

Thank you net galley for allowing me the opportunity to review this advanced reader copy!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stinky History of Toilets is a short history about toilets and poop intended for young (elementary school) readers. However it is a fascinating look at history and biology across the centuries. I would recommend this audiobook for anyone school-age and above, especially those who like trivia or participate in Scholars’ Bowl, Knowledge Masters, or trivia contests. Facts about poop, urine, and toilets from around the world are presented in random chronological order.

The audio narration by Sura Siu is great; her voice is clear and contains excitement about the facts she is sharing. There is no background laugh-track or juvenile humor; the information is presented matter-of-factly. The music and special effects add to the overall charm.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chrissy Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom of two boys I can assure you toilets are all the rage right now (I don’t get it either but dum dum yes yes yes as they say) Plus poop is a timeless classical joke as far as children are concerned, so mix that with history, social studies and science? A mother’s dream.
This is the kind of book a homeschool mom doesn’t even have to have a lesson planned for- this book went from a 40 minute read to hours of side conversations of how why and who’s that? When did that happen? Which we all know is an amazing thing to be able to spark! My 5 year old enjoyed this so much- but I think the best part is I can put this away and through the years I think it will spark new conversations as they grow - this book has the unique quality of being silly enough to be captivating to a young reader while still being educational enough to not feel like a waste of time for mom!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle schoolers and younger kids will love this book. It's all about poop. Filled with odd facts about the history of human waste disposal, kids will enjoy learning that excrement was used as a weapon by the Mongols, urine was used to clean clothing in Roman times, how one King was murdered using the facilities, and other random and strange historical truths about disposing of human feces.

With just enough grossness to offset the actual facts explained, the book will be popular with those going through their fascination with YUCK.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sura Siu but I understand the pictures are not to be missed.

Recommended for young historians and those who loved The Fart Book.

Note: I listened to an audio galley courtesy of Netflix.

[Ashdeclet Audiobook Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The facts along with the added background noises made this audiobook so enjoyable!

I think this is a great book for people of all ages, not just those who are younger or in the potty-training stage. I learned so much about the history of the toilet, how people have used it over the years, and just random facts that are just fun to pass along.

Do yourself a favor and give this book a listen!

Thank you so much #Netgalley and #MacmillanAudio for an advanced audio copy of this book. It was very enjoyable, and I would not have listened to it otherwise. A very pleasant surprise.

[Amber Gillett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly illustrated with lots of funny hidden details, tattooed bottoms in windows and cheeky facial expressions. The use of colour is brilliant each double page in a different colour scheme with vibrant depictions of all things poo!

I read this to my 6 year old daughter and I believe we both found it as entertaining as each other.

With bizarre but true facts from all around the globe from historical to modern day this book has so much that will stop you mid sentence to say reaally???

I've learnt and laughed and that's all I could ask for. Highly recommend for anyone with kids who love a chuckle about bodily functions.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first and fifth grader both loved this book because it was gross and filled with toilet, poop, and other gross facts. The book isn't really narrative non-fiction but just a list of facts, but they're presented in an engaging way with the audio version that kept us coming back to learn more. We all laughed and could talk about the history of weird poop/toilet facts for days! (We loved the poop catapult, communal toilets and the sea creatures that swam up in them, and kids falling into privies lolol)

Thanks to Libro.fm for the complimentary copy of this audiobook.

[KJA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version with my kids, ages 6, 9, and 12. It was amazing! I loved it. My kids loved it. My one ADHD kid paid attention to the entire audiobook - that says a lot. We learned so much too. I have to look to see if they have any more audiobooks like this one.

The narrator, Sura Siu, was excellent. Her voice is fun and engaging. Perfect for kids. Highly recommend it.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the audiobook. #netgalley #historyofstinkytoilets

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title sorta says it all but I'll add that this is the perfect book for little factoid-lovers who also happen to have a penchant for potty humor and history. Honestly, that's pretty much every kid in the post-diapers to five-year-old age range. Though this book may be too advanced for them, the illustrations combined with selective reading should please the poop out of littles. A must for every elementary school library.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

Kids love potty humor so why not try to capitalize on that and actually teach them something in the process!

I learned a lot about toilets in this book. I was also pretty grossed out for most of it.

I think they leaned a little too heavily on the gross out factor in the illustrators (especially showing people vomiting too).

[Corrin V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for kids who like toilet humor. Full of interesting facts and information about humans and their history around pooping. While not fan of toilet humor myself, I found the information shared to be interesting. Appropriate for elementary and up.

[Alyssa (reading.and.rambling) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, fun, interesting book. It covered a large span of time and explained some things about the evolution of where we go to the bathroom and what toilets were throughout history. I did not love the music and additional sounds in the audiobook though. I found that to be distracting.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great non-fiction book. Funny topic, goofy illustrations. All about how people have handled their "business" throughout history. It covers how people used to bury it to gongfermors who had to clean up poop in the streets at night. Definitely for those wanting gross.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly engaging and interesting.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

My boys and I listened together. They got a good kick out of the silly facts and history on a seat we take for granted!
Thanks NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the audiobook!

[Matthew Meikle · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were the kind of books I loved as a kid and then loved as a parent. Fun to read, interesting things to learn, and visually hilarious. I read it with my teen and we both enjoyed it!

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

I'm always looking for more books about poop, and this delivers.

[Tam I · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, information packed. Loved it.

[Renee MA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a list of different ways people have pooped over the years along with stuff they have found in REALLY old poop I will never think of Vikings the same.