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Poo-dunit? A Forest Floor Mystery
This rollicking, rhyming tale of animal poo will have children squealing with laughter—even as they learn about forest ecosystems and discover surprising facts about scat.
Sniff, sniff! went Mouse. Whiff, whiff! went Mouse.
“Who left this poo outside my house? I must undo this mystery. Poo-dunit?”
Mouse is dismayed to step outside her house one morning only to discover a giant pile of poo! Who could have done such a dastardly deed? Mouse questions all the animals of the forest, but it’s too big to be Squirrel’s, too dark to be Coyote’s, and too messy to be Deer’s. Will Mouse ever track down the culprit—and will she find a way to make the best of this smelly situation? Between giggles at every mention of the word poo, children will learn to identify eight different animals’ scat and discover how droppings can help plants to grow, all while enjoying Katelyn Aronson’s rhyming text and Stephanie Laberis’s expressive animals. Back matter includes a mini “poo-dunit” mystery challenging children to match scat with the correct animal, as well as a note on why poo is precious—and who is responsible for the biggest poo of all.
Sniff, sniff! went Mouse. Whiff, whiff! went Mouse.
“Who left this poo outside my house? I must undo this mystery. Poo-dunit?”
Mouse is dismayed to step outside her house one morning only to discover a giant pile of poo! Who could have done such a dastardly deed? Mouse questions all the animals of the forest, but it’s too big to be Squirrel’s, too dark to be Coyote’s, and too messy to be Deer’s. Will Mouse ever track down the culprit—and will she find a way to make the best of this smelly situation? Between giggles at every mention of the word poo, children will learn to identify eight different animals’ scat and discover how droppings can help plants to grow, all while enjoying Katelyn Aronson’s rhyming text and Stephanie Laberis’s expressive animals. Back matter includes a mini “poo-dunit” mystery challenging children to match scat with the correct animal, as well as a note on why poo is precious—and who is responsible for the biggest poo of all.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2022
150 people want to read
About the author
Katelyn Aronson
9 books53 followersKatelyn Aronson grew up in Southern California, where she went on to work in independent children's bookshops as a handseller, manager, and purchaser.
She won her first trip to Paris in a bookstore window display contest, and the rest was history. She moved to France permanently a few years later.
She has a degree in Liberal Arts, a degree in Language Didactics, and a bilingual Master’s in English/French from La Sorbonne University, Paris. Today, she lives between France and Switzerland and works as a bilingual language instructor.
She has 8 children's books in the publishing pipeline, as well as poems published in various children's magazines.
She won her first trip to Paris in a bookstore window display contest, and the rest was history. She moved to France permanently a few years later.
She has a degree in Liberal Arts, a degree in Language Didactics, and a bilingual Master’s in English/French from La Sorbonne University, Paris. Today, she lives between France and Switzerland and works as a bilingual language instructor.
She has 8 children's books in the publishing pipeline, as well as poems published in various children's magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
August 3, 2022
Mouse wakes up to a foul smell just outside of her home. It is a pile of poo! Throughout the day she asks animal after animal if they did it and the culprit is eventually revealed. This books is hilariously educational and will have you laughing! Not only that, the fact that there is a book about animal poo that actually rhymes is amazing. Learn about different types of animal poo AND how it can be useful in nature.
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
October 22, 2025
Fun and informative. Enjoyed the verse in rhyme.
January 22, 2025
Around two-three years old my sons have all liked learning about poop. It's disgusting but I always try to support their reading choices. So after we read about skunks for a couple weeks we were at the library and I asked my 3yo what he'd like to read about and he said poop.
Is this book gross? Yes.
Have I checked it out multiple times? Yes.
Is it the least awful poop book I found? Also yes.
As someone who loves the mystery genre it is a cute play on words and satisfied my 3yo questions about poop...at least for forest animals. I can now identify and have memorized the different poop you'll find in the forest. Yay me. If I have to check it out again I'm going to just buy the book since he loves it so much.
Is this book gross? Yes.
Have I checked it out multiple times? Yes.
Is it the least awful poop book I found? Also yes.
As someone who loves the mystery genre it is a cute play on words and satisfied my 3yo questions about poop...at least for forest animals. I can now identify and have memorized the different poop you'll find in the forest. Yay me. If I have to check it out again I'm going to just buy the book since he loves it so much.
May 10, 2022
This funny, rhyming picture book begins with a hysterical premise that kids will love. Mouse wakes up one morning to a disgusting odor. A quick peek outside of her burrow reveals that Mouse has a mystery on her paws — POO-dunnit! Mouse calls on each of her friends trying to find the culprit. But each one has an “alibi” in that their poo looks very different than the one Mouse shows them.
My 5 and 8 year old sons loved trying to solve this “stinky” mystery! They also enjoyed the back matter, trying to match drawings of different kinds of animal scat to the animals in the book using the clues featured in the text.
My 5 and 8 year old sons loved trying to solve this “stinky” mystery! They also enjoyed the back matter, trying to match drawings of different kinds of animal scat to the animals in the book using the clues featured in the text.
January 1, 2026
A unique book that will satisfy the curiosity of kids who want to know about poop! This book will open up conversation about a usually undiscussed topic, and it addresses the subject in a fun way.
September 9, 2022
When Mouse sniffs a pile of poo outside her door, she wants to find the culprit. But one by one, she learns why each animal could not be the maker of the poo. Finally she solves the mystery and discovers a good use for poo. Young readers and listeners will laugh at the rollicking rhyme, all the while learning to identify different animal scats and why poo is precious! A fun read for budding naturalists.
May 12, 2022
While I don't usually gravitate toward potty humor, this one had me laughing out loud right alongside my kids. Follow along as Mouse tries to figure out who left a gigantic poo outside their burrow. He asks all the neighborhood animals and we learn all about different animal scat as he investigates. Complete with absolutely adorable art this is a fun one for curious gigglers everywhere!
September 5, 2022
Hilarious good fun! POO-DUNIT? A FOREST FLOOR MYSTERY has everything kids love in a story – mystery, humor, rhyme, and POO! The story begins with poor Mouse and her stinky discovery outside her burrow. Mouse sets out on a quest to find the animal responsible for this smelly mess and hilarious moments ensue until the mystery is solved. Katelyn Aronson’s spot-on, clever rhyming text and Stephanie Laberis’s sweet, expressive illustrations make for a story that will be a fast favorite and read again and again. The back matter is informative and even has a poo matching game. A highly recommended read!
June 17, 2022
This book has it all -- read-aloud rhyme, a funny premise, a mystery, STEM back matter and of course, POO! Poo-dunit is the kind of book kids adore and will beg to read over and over again. Don't miss the poo matching game at the end of the book and the informative back matter. Lots of fun!
October 13, 2022
I would almost consider this book nonfiction. It teaches about 8 different types of animal scat and the importance that poo plays in the environment.
December 8, 2022
Hilarious and entertaining for kids. What kid doesn’t laugh at poo 💩?
September 1, 2022
Well, pull up a stool... POO-DUNIT? is a rollicking, rhyming forest floor mystery by ultra-skilled wordsmith Katelyn Aronson, in the vein of "The Story of the Little Mole (who knew it was none of his business.)" It is a veritable vowel movement, a delightful, dung-filled giggle-aloud following an irate little mouse trying to find out which forest creature did its business outside of her house. Of course, everyone has an excuse why it's not theirs...
Steph Laberis' illustrations assemble an absolutely adorable cast of suspects, and are the perfect compliment to Aronson's sprightly verse.
I can't wait to gift my copy to my wee nephew.
Steph Laberis' illustrations assemble an absolutely adorable cast of suspects, and are the perfect compliment to Aronson's sprightly verse.
I can't wait to gift my copy to my wee nephew.
December 11, 2022
This funny mystery in short rhymes is narrative nonfiction at its best. Kids will love the silly antics as they guess along, wondering whose poo has been plopped outside Mouse's door. The art is hilarious. I like how beneath the humor is a positive message about teamwork and how poo actually serves a beneficial purpose. For kids who love animals, are inquisitive, or enjoy exploring outdoors.
August 31, 2022
Oh! My! Goodness! Hilarious! Clever. Unique. Tight rhymes that make it a perfect read aloud. Illustrations couldn’t be more perfect. What a romp!
August 27, 2022
Funny, rhyming, a little bit of facts, a mystery, and all about poo! A winner! Mouse sticks her snout outside her burrow and smells a terrible poo and sets out to figure out this poo-dunit mystery. While it's a gross topic, reader learn about what different animals poo looks like. Can't wait to use it in a storytime.
August 27, 2022
I really liked this telling of animal scat/poo in the forest and whose it is. A fun way to teach about animal litter and whose it is by the other animal's explaining why it isn't their poo. And the mystery and rhyme is solved at the end. The illustrations are big and bold and colorful, too.
August 24, 2022
You can't help smiling through this stinky mystery! Poop jokes are always funny and a hit with the kids, but this book offers more than just a poo mystery - it offers up fun facts about all different forest animal #2!
The illustrations are perfect, funny without being too gross. The expressions on the animal faces are priceless.
Your kids will definitely ask you to read this one again and again!
The illustrations are perfect, funny without being too gross. The expressions on the animal faces are priceless.
Your kids will definitely ask you to read this one again and again!
August 25, 2022
Hilarious and educational.
September 28, 2022
so funny
September 23, 2022
Kids had a rollicking fun time with this one.
February 22, 2022
Hilarious and wonderfully illustrated! Loved this book! Sometimes you just need a little poo mystery to change your day for the best!
September 16, 2022
Kids will love trying to solve the poo mystery!
August 3, 2022
Phew, that was one stinky mystery! Kids will enjoy the clever rhymes, humor, and funny illustrations! The STEM elements add an extra layer that educators will appreciate. Loved the ending--it'll leave you smiling.
August 3, 2022
This book is hilarious! It rhymes without being forced, it teaches readers a thing or two about animal poo, and the illustrations will make you laugh out loud.
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September 9, 2022This book is totally gross and my five year old LOVES it.
June 5, 2022
What a hilarious info fic book! Based on real poo facts, Katelyn Aronson and Stephanie Laberis have created a dynamic rhyming mystery! After Mouse wakes to the most disturbing smell outside its home, it rallies the whole forest to track down who is responsible. Squirrel, Skunk, Porcupine, Fox, Coyote, and Deer all explain in detail (and rhyme!) why the poo does not resemble theirs! Kids will love the surprise of who, in fact, is the poo culprit! Without a doubt Poo-dunit! is a fun and informative book!
June 24, 2022
Who wouldn't be upset to find a pile of stinky poo outside your house? Mouse certainly is! Fun ensues as Mouse plays detective to find out which animal was the poo-pertrator! Katelyn Aronson's clever, rhyming text and Stephanie Laberis's delightful illustrations bring all the giggles as the mystery unfolds. There's also interesting back matter including a "poo" identifying quiz. A hilarious read aloud for adults and kids to enjoy!
August 16, 2022
Mouse wakes up to a foul smell just outside of her home. It is a pile of poo! Throughout the day she asks animal after animal if they did it and the culprit is eventually revealed. This books is hilariously educational and will have you laughing! Not only that, the fact that there is a book about animal poo that actually rhymes is amazing. Learn about different types of animal poo AND how it can be useful in nature.
July 16, 2022
Who knew that a rhyming picture book about scat could be so fun, rhythmic, and informative? Well folks, Katelyn Aronson (along with fab illustrator, Stephanie Laberis)has created one that is just that! A humorus, heart-filled, heuristic approach to identifying poo...and a must-read that will be read again and again and again....
June 1, 2022
Don’t be fooled by the title, this book is as sweet as can be. Hilarious and fun to read with absolutely delightful illustrations! Kids and parents are sure to love every minute of this book, which presents a ton of animal poop facts with flawless rhyme. A total winner!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews