Animal Grossology

February 2, 1998
grossed out An addition to the Grossology series, Animal Grossology: The Science of Creatures Gross and Disgusting by Sylvia Branzei, illus. by Jack Keely, takes advantage of kids' fascination with the gross to teach them about the animal world-or at least those members of it that can be categorized as "vomit munchers," "blood slurpers," "slime makers," and "dookie lovers." The informal text includes ideas for recipes, snail observation and games, one of which relies upon a "Handy Dandy Butt Candy Name Chart" clarifying distinctions between guano and scat, chips and road apples. An eclectic collection of bad jokes, tongue twisters, dog names, palindromes, quotations and trivia, "Whaddaya Doin' in There?": A Bathroom Companion (for Kids!) by The Editors of Planet Dexter sustains the gross theme chiefly with its cover illustration of a bespectacled kid reading on the john. The enclosed pine tree air freshener doubles as a bookmark. Meanwhile, those wondering why their armpits smell or curious about Abraham Lincoln's beard can open The Hairy Book, also by the Editors of Planet Dexter-that is, if they can find the cover. This book has a full head of hair, literally, all over it (but rest assured the hair is fabulously faux); an attached pink comb bears the title. Holding this creation is a little bit frightening. Inside, however, is a treasure trove of fun follicle facts: "The first pocket watch wouldn't have worked if it didn't have a rolled hog bristle acting as its balance spring."