Pick, Spit & Scratch: The Science of Disgusting Habits

by Julia Garstecki, Chris Monroe (Illustrations)

Parents and teachers, turn nagging about hand washing, covering your cough, and other healthy practices into STEM learning moments with Pick, Spit & Scratch . Weird, disgusting science facts (a sneeze or cough can spray germs 25 feet through the air!) behind a range of bad habits, accompanied by hilarious illustrations, give kids the vivid answers they need to change their ways and tips that show them how—including step-by-step illustrated instructions on how to wash viruses and bacteria off your hands like an expert.

As any parent or teacher will attest, all kids have bad habits from, er, time to time. They pick their nose. They hold their pee. Or pee in pools. They pick their nose. They don’t brush their teeth. They pick their nose. But we seldom stop to think that there are science lessons in these habits.

Each spread in  Pick, Spit & Scratch  describes a specific bad habit, and provides multilayered reading opportunities in the form of incredible, revolting facts  that ratchet up the gross factor. Bad habits are transformed into relatable concepts for kids ; for example, we swallow up to a quart of snot a day—enough to fill a small milk carton.

In some cases, the author even debunks myths about bad habits by introducing counter-intuitive scientific research (boogers may actually have health benefits) or humorously turning the tables on adults (one study showed that most adults pick their noses, too).

Kids will love Pick, Spit & Scratch  because it's gross. Parents will love it because it says, “I told you so.” Everyone will love the health benefits.

Genres: Childrens

64 pages, Hardcover

Published November 27, 2018

Reviews

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5. A book about bad habits. Where they’re from, how to get rid of them, and some science behind all that. Kind of a simple book, but well explained, vulgarized and illustrated so it can be useful to talk about it with children. It’s also a subject not so often written on, so that’s a good point. Nothing extraordinary, but everything working fine!

[Ann T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Quatro and Netgalley for granting my wish for this ARC.

I loved this book. It is a fabulous book for children to read by themselves, or with a parent, with great pictures on germs, how the body works and personal habits.

The perfect book to leave for the child who has to be reminded to wash body, hands, etc etc regularly !!!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that people who eat their buggers are often healthier than people who don't? That's because you ingest the germs, and get your body stronger each time it gets a new germ introduced after you've eaten another bugger.

This is just one of the fun facts you can learn from this book of disgusting things that people do all the time.





Farting, burping, chewing on finger nails, they are all there and more. And though this book is supposed to be telling you about the science behind the bad habits, it also tries to tell you that you should change your habits, so you don't damage yourself, by, say, picking your butt and not washing your hands.

And the only bad habit that they show scientifically is good, is bugger eating, so feel free to keep doing that, just do it in private.

A great book to get kids interested in science. Or just in gross things.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great gross book with silly illustrations to help develop or further a child's fascination with everything "gross".

Goes from urine to dog kisses to gaming. It has a section that talks about breaking bad habits.

Downloaded on Netgalley in exchange for a free, honest review.

[Maria Andreina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pick, Spit & Scratch: The Science of Disgusting Habits is a children's book that explains why grownups want them to stop doing certain things like biting their nails. The illustrations are fun and colourful. The information is useful, interesting and simple. I think kids can find it interesting, although it's not the kind of book that you read over and over. It's the kind of book I would like to borrow from my local library.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

[Flocarine · Rating 5 out of 5]

... this book has a nice layout for an easy reading, it´s funny and interesting - it´s about science about bad or good habits and I really had a great time reading it. Even for adults it ´s quite interesting and cute!

Note 1+++ or A+

thanks for letting me review this book, also it took me a while =)

[Neha Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little guide to remind kids to be healthy and germ, well, have less germs at least. I think it most likely will be a teacher lee read aloud maybe after Bob, Not Bob (Scanlon) to talk about what happens when we are sick and how to stay healthy. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC.

[Terrie Case · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the scientific reasons why it is not healthy to do the things that kids think are fun.

Contrary to my initial belief, this was not a humorous book like Ralph the Farting Dog by Kotzwinkle, Murray, and Colman. It identifies the behavior, tells kids that these are nasty habits and explains what a habit is. It then proceeds to show the scientific facts that make these things unhealthy.

As a germaphobe, when I first began to read this book I didn’t know if I would be able to finish it. It is truly disgusting. However, as it goes on to show children why the behaviors or myths are untrue, unsafe and unsanitary.

This is an excellent source of support for those adults trying to teach positive social behaviors to kids. By reading the book with them, you can reinforce the idea that care should be observed. It is a source book NOT a fun kid's book to read and reread but it IS interesting in its own right.


I received an eBook ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. That in no way affects my opinion or ratings for this book.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh ! This book is informative, hilarious. just brilliant.
If you have a child of nearly any age, this is a great book for approaching subjects that are sometimes difficult for an adult or embarrassing for a child..
The author has done great job of mixing fact with humor, while covering a great deal of information.

[Ginae B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a seriously charming (in a child's way) science book for younger ones with bad habits, or perhaps, slowly acquiring a habit.

The language is appropriate as such.

The images are awesome, creative and in time with the tale. A parent or caregiver should have no problem engaging a germane audience with Pick, Spit & Scratch. They were probably thinking about doing one or all three at any given moment anyway.

Well-done!

[Teresa Grabs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pick, Spit, and Scratch is an informative and funny book about bad habits. The illustrations are cute, and a lot of research went into the book, but it's not something I see kids rushing to the library to read. It comes across as too "teaching" and less "gross." There are other books on the market that cover nearly the same subject material that play into what the kids want to read. It would be great in a classroom setting though.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto - Young Voyagers Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Danielle Benoit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book for kids who are definitely learning about their bodies and habits. It gives good tips and interesting information about the different topics it talks about.

[Alycia Canfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that's just a bugger of a book. A science book about where all your bad habits come from. There are pictures and easy words to make it fun for kids. Farting, burping, chewing on finger nails, they are all there and more. The perfect book to leave for the child who has to be reminded to wash body, hands, etc regularly !!!

[Kathleen Guinnane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students will love this book. They will be attracted to the bright colors and the gross out factor of the subject, but they will come away from the book learning many facts about their own bodily functions. Pages are busy, but not crowded and invite the readers eye to move from one item to the next.