I hope everyone had a fun and safe Fourth of July. I live outside of the city limits, so our neighborhood was full of bangs and bursts of color, making for a very exuberant holiday. When I moved to Washington, one of the first things I was told is that summer doesn’t start until after July 4, so now I can say it’s officially summertime here in the Northwest. It may not last as long as the summers I remember from growing up in southern Nevada, but while summer is here, it certainly is glorious. Here’s to you, July and August!
Time for another preview of some recently published titles. I’m always on the lookout for books that have engaging content but may not have been picked up by the major review sources. Below you’ll find books about sloths, chickens, leisure-seeking Finns, and flatulence. Yes, flatulence. Well, I never promised you a rose garden, but I can promise that there’s never a dull moment when it comes to reading material.
“Does It Fart? The Definitive Guide to Animal Flatulence,” by Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiotti.
I have to admit that I probably picked up this book because of my dad. Anything to do with passing gas tickled his funny bone, and it was hard not to be tickled as well because he had such an infectious laugh. So, a book about breaking wind was predetermined to land in my lap. The funny thing is, “Does It Fart?” manages to charm and inform at the same time. Illustrated by Ethan Kocak, humorous drawings accompany the authors’ serious investigation into animal flatulence. I know that cats and dogs can be real stinkers, but I had no idea that millipedes and herring toot as well. On the other hand (cheek?), sea cucumbers and octopuses do not, although an octopus does have a fartlike process when it propels water through its siphons. This is fascinating stuff, folks, so don’t hesitate a bit to add this to your summer reading list. And if you ever happen to be hanging out with a python, be forewarned that gas from a python has been described as “thick and meaty.” Eww.
