This is the perfect book for anyone who delights in the gross, the gooey, and the downright fascinating. Because let’s be honest – sometimes the yuckiest facts are the most interesting.

We kick off by discovering just how often animals eat. A cow munches every four hours, a great white shark dines every three months, an emperor penguin every six months, and a Galápagos tortoise only once a year! Talk about very different meal plans.

Then things get a little dirtier –literally. Some animals actually eat soil. Why? Because it’s packed with nutrients they can’t get elsewhere and can even soak up toxins. In other words, it’s ‘the perfect remedy for runny bums!’ And it’s not just the usual suspects –giraffes, elephants, kangaroos, cockatoos, and monkeys all get in on the action.

But wait … it gets grosser. Some animals eat poo. Yes, really. Baby koalas, for example, munch on their mother’s poo to help their bodies transition from milk to eucalyptus leaves. It’s full of helpful microorganisms – still gross, but also kind of amazing.

And that’s just the beginning. Inside, you’ll meet animals that drink blood, shed their skin and then eat it, and even a bird that harasses others until they vomit – then swoops in for the meal. Nature, as it turns out, can be wonderfully disgusting.

It’s impossible not to love a book packed with facts like these. Expect plenty of ‘Did you know…?’ moments— –nd a lot of delighted (and slightly horrified) chatter at the dinner table.

Reviewed by Jane Stephens

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Claire Stevens is a veterinarian, and an avid animal and nature lover with a passion for educating children about the fascinating world of science.

Inspired by her two sons, Koa and Kai, Dr Claire writes funny and engaging books about science for young readers, which feature her beloved Golden Retriever, Frankie.

Dr Claire is an in-demand animal expert on TV, magazines and social media, runs online courses on raising puppies, and is the author of popular animal care book Dr Claire’s Love Your Dog.

Visit Dr Claire Stevens’ website

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Adele K Thomas has a background in TV and feature animation and covers areas of design for animation production, children’s books, apps, education & brand advertising including mascots.

She has worked in-house on animated productions as a feature film director, art director and production design lead, and has twenty years’ industry experience, including projects for Disney, Dreamworks Animation and Warner Brothers TVA, as well as Cartoon Network and Nelvana. Adele has illustrated books for Scholastic, Hardie Grant & Penguin Australia, and is currently illustrating books for Harper Collins AU. Her experience in animation film and TV design allows Adele to bring a lively personality and movement to a book’s characters, expressive faces and a versatility in style & colour application.

Visit Adele K Thomas’ website