A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu, and You

by Mike Barfield, Jess Bradley (Illustrator)

Overview

Packed with comics, diagrams, and trivia, this “over-the-top-fun” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) book is a wondrous, encyclopedic glance at a dizzying host of different things—from hearts to farts to coconuts—and makes a hilarious and informative guide for curious young readers.

Join the hilarious exploration of “a day in the life” of nearly 100 things on Earth. Find out what exactly your tongue does all day long, how a Japanese knotweed destroys everything in its path, and why no two snowflakes are ever the same. From the gross and smelly to the beautiful and fascinating, this book is a treasure trove of entertaining information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534467217
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	03/16/2021
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	GN720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Mike Barfield is a writer, cartoonist, poet, and performer, who lives in a small village in North Yorkshire, England. A typical day in his life consists of sitting at a desk in a very untidy room surrounded by hundreds of books, while he writes and draws things he hopes will make people laugh.

Jess Bradley is an illustrator and comic artist from Torquay, England. As well as writing and drawing for The Phoenix, she also writes for The Beano and illustrates a variety of children’s books. During her day, she enjoys painting in her sketchbooks, watching scary films, and letting her son beat her at Mario Kart.

Editorial Reviews

02/01/2021

Gr 2–4—Expanding considerably on the titular topics, the creators offer sweeping graphic surveys of the human body from brain to (especially) butt, assorted members of the animal and plant kingdoms, technological marvels, and even select geophysical processes. In cartoon panels with occasional breaks for a "bigger picture," dozens of animals, items, or organs mug or smile while describing their features and functions in a breezy style reminiscent of the "Basher Science" series: "Pleased to meet you! I'm a male dung beetle, and I'm just rolling with it." If the level of detail can't compare to more narrowly focused entries in the "Science Comics" series or (the gold standard) Maris Wicks's Human Body Theater, readers will still come away knowing that their eyes won't pop out no matter how hard they sneeze, the difference between "macrophage" and "mucophage," and why LEDs are more eco-friendly than incandescent bulbs. VERDICT Fresh, funny, unusually broad if not deep—tailor-made for STEM-centric browsing.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York

School Library Journal

★ 2020-12-15
Science factoids, graphic-novel style.

This over-the-top-fun volume from writer-and-illustrator team Barfield and Bradley is divided into three sections covering the human body, the animal kingdom, and “Earth and Science” (something of a grab-bag section, but it works). Devoting one or two pages to each topic, the book explores a wide spectrum of subjects: from the brain to various types of cells; from the mayfly to the Komodo dragon; and from Japanese knotweed to rainbows. Each subject takes the format of either “A Day in the Life” or a “Secret Diary,” both of which unfurl as a conversational overview. Occasional recto pages labeled “The Bigger Picture” expand on a topic introduced on verso; for example, the sea-jelly page is accompanied by a “Bigger Picture” that introduces deadly sea jellies. Barfield’s tone is light, imbuing his scenes with abundant giggles but never watering down the actual information. The full-color comics format makes this instantly accessible, and its nonlinear nature lends itself to picking up and putting down at will. Readers who love trivia or are simply seeking out some good old-fashioned poop and booger facts will be equally satisfied. A closing glossary provides useful definitions of terms used throughout; footnotes also define words or cross-reference related topics. Humans portrayed display a range of skin tones.

A winner: hits the entertaining and educational sweet spot. (Graphic nonfiction. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews