Loos, poos, and number twos A disgusting journey through the bowels of history!

*Starred Review* Everyone loves the smell of their own farts, this book declares brightly. Bet you do too. And that sets the tone for the whole shebang. This installment in the Awfully Ancient series takes a fearlessly chipper plunge into the history of excrement (referred to, for most of the text, as poo). From the archaeological impact of dug-up dung to early toilets in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and China to the devastating effects a lack of hygienic waste disposal had in early London, it seems as though every bowels-related question possible has been answered. The colorful cartoon illustrations are comical and utterly unembarrassed, flinging themselves into their subject matter with as much gusto as someone emptying a chamber pot. Recurring section A Glance down the Toilet provides (even more) fun poo-related facts from over the centuries. A late chapter called Toilet Tales is particularly interesting let's just say that, historically, toilets have been dangerous places for kings while the end takes a (relatively) serious turn as it looks toward the future and the sustainability of Western sewage systems. A lively, surprisingly informative, high-interest volume that manages to both entertain and educate.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2015 Booklist