"Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi is part biology textbook, part sociological treatise and all celebration of a very natural process. Both my daughters begged me to read the book over and over again. They marveled at the enormity of the elephant's poop and searched with the skill of a scientist for the tiny specks which represent bug poop. The text is simple and straightforward but not without humor.

Last summer, on our way to Brighton, Elaine, my wife of eighteen years and six months, and our children, Trevor, Gladys, and Glenys saw a flock of geese flying above us, making their way to the sea, as we were.

Whilst flying, the flock chanced (albeit seemingly deliberately) to splatter our motorcoach most effectively with their effluvium. The ensuing commotion was exacerbated by the fact that our car was a convertible.

So this book brought us much solace as we changed into cleaner garments and continued on our way.

Note: I am reluctant to award a fifth star to this review only because of the accidental ommision to qualify that there are many many lifeforms on our humble planet that do not, in fact, defecate. There are too many to list here, however.

This childrens book has the special quality of delivering factual & honest information in a way that really holds a childs attention. Just explains the basics in a no BS way that kids respond to well. It does not cover up or hide pooping in a complex storyline or glittery pictures.

I bought this book as a coffee table conversation piece. Friends see it and think it a hoot. The idea has worked out great.

My justturned3 yr old son just loves this book. He is already pottytrained (and also uses the big toilet) but loves the affirmation this book gives. He already knows mommy poops and his doggy poops (we have to pick it up!) but this shows that all animals eat (and shows various foods being munched upon) and thus all animals poop. I like that it makes that connection.

The drawings are quite painterly and stylised, yet the different types of poop (white for birds, little round balls allover for rabbits etc) are clearly indicated. We tie this into looking for signs of animals in the park and out on walks. Is that a bird poop on the car? Is that a squirrel poop next to the tree? Were deer by here last night? What did that animal eat... oh! little bits of berries in this one!

I do think this is an excellent book for demystifying poop (and the Reed Business Info reviewer quoted here could use a few reads of it: really... for something that is into twenty something printings, couldn't they find a less biased review?) Not just for toilet training, but as an introduction to animal science, observing nature, and thinking through the cycle of digestion. Identifying scat is a big part of being a field-naturalist.

Indeed everybody poops. Learning to talk about it (to tell an adult you need to go) is an important first step. Indeed it is a VERY suitable picture book subject for wee ones (and older ones) curious about the world.

My son had me read this over and over again. He thinks it is so funny. Especially how the elephant has big poop and the mouse has tiny poop. Although it hasn't helped him get potty trained yet, we both have fun reading it.