Turning Poop into Power Fuel

April 1, 2018

Gr 3-5-The titles alone will attract readers who enjoy gross-out topics, and the cover design uses brown drippy lettering for the word poop to increase the yuck factor. This series covers everything from feces as construction material to its use in beauty treatments. While the topics may seem lighthearted, there is plenty of science here. Issues such as the need for renewable energy sources and biodegradable building materials underscore the logic of treating poop as a natural resource. Photos show fossilized scat, biomass production sites, and close-ups of bacteria and viruses present in waste. Uses by animals and humans around the world, both past and present, show the versatility of poop for defense against predators, home insulation, and even creating biological weapons. VERDICT Perfect for reaching reluctant science readers and an eye-catching addition to collections where patrons are begging for more variety.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.