Mentor Texts for Writing About Bodily Functions + Book Giveaways

CATCH-UP QUICK: Earlier this week, Melanie and I released a new Digging Deeper Dialogue focusing on the challenging topics often emerging in elementary school writing workshops. In the episode, we discussed bodily functions, violence, and mental health issues. We emphasized the importance of establishing clear boundaries and creating a safe space for young writers. 

I suggest you listen to the podcast before reading the rest of this post. However, you’re welcome to go back and listen to the episode whenever time permits.

THE CONTEXT: In Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, Ralph Fletcher reminds us that we must encourage all students to write about topics and ideas they are passionate about. We can encourage humor when we see it and honor it for the intelligent thinking it involves. 

HOW I GOT HERE: Towards the end of the podcast episode, I told Melanie that I wanted to compile a list of books on bodily functions for a future blog post. I know some kids want to write all about burps, farts, and poop, so they might as well have high-quality mentor texts for that purpose. So, welcome to the post I promised!

THE DETAILS: I’ve encountered numerous books about bodily functions over the years, but most were focused on potty training. While these books were invaluable to me as a parent, they aren’t suitable as mentor texts in an elementary school (unless a student is specifically writing about potty training).

For this post, I set out to find books that:

• Approach bodily functions in an educational manner
• Engage young readers effectively
• Present information in an age-appropriate way
• Maintain high literary quality

My goal was to identify texts that could tackle these sensitive topics while still being suitable for classroom use. These books should inform students about bodily functions without relying on the typical potty humor often found in children’s literature.

To keep this post concise, I’ve organized the books into categories. This will streamline your reading experience and might spark ideas for inspiring young writers on these essential topics.

Beyond the Gross-Out: A Stinky History of Toilets: Flush with Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries by Olivia Meikle, Katie Nelson, and Ella Kasperowicz (Neon Squid, 2024), Fish Farts: And Other Amazing Ways Animals Adapt by Joanne Settel, PhD and Natasha Donovan (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024), Gross As a Snot Otter by Jess Keating (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2019), and Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom by Edward Kay and Mike Shiell (Kids Can Press, 2022) are perfect for kids who like cool facts. These books entertain with their humorous subject matter and provide substantial information—through engaging text and illustrations—that helps readers learn more than just gross snippets to share with their friends.

Comic Appeal: Zoë Foster Blake and Adam Nickel created two clever books, No One Likes a Burp (Penguin Workshop, 2017) and No One Likes a Fart (Penguin Workshop, 2021), that combine prose and speech bubbles in a way that brings burps and farts to life. I’m Trying to Love Germs by Bethany Barton (Viking, 2023) offers a playful yet informative look at the microbes that live in and on the body, surfaces, etc. It’s a spectacular read for the full spectrum of kids in a classroom (i.e., germaphobes to the kids who think handwashing happens in under five seconds, if at all).

Digestive Diseases: Many students with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, are hesitant to talk or write about their disease. While the other categories are filled with picture books, this category differs. Professor Nimbal: Explorations in Crohn’s and Colitis by David Suskind, MD and Jason Piperberg (NiMBAL Comics, 2019) is a comic book that explores IBD in an informative, entertaining way. You can download it for free in over 10 languages.) Gut Reaction by Kirby Larson and Quinn Wyatt (Scholastic Press, 2024) and The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet Jake Maia Arlow (Dial Books, 2023) are middle-grade novels. Including these texts matters because kids with Crohn’s disease and Colitis need mirror books if they’re going to write about their chronic medical condition.

Droppings and Discoveries: Several books are written with various nonfiction text structures to teach readers more about the importance of poop in the animal kingdom. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, the following titles are worthy of use as mentor texts. Poo-Dunit? A Forest Floor Mystery by Katelyn Aronson and Stephanie Laberis (Candlewick Press, 2022), Poop: A Natural History of the Unmentionable by Nicola Davies and Neal Layton (Candlewick Press, 2011), Poop for Breakfast: Why Animals Eat It by Sara Levine and Florence Weiser (Millbrook Press, 2023), What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz and Allison Black (Beach Lane Books, 2018), and Whose Poop Is That? by Darrin Lunde and Kelsey Oseid (Charlesbridge, 2017) have unique text structures, which students can try out too.

Exploring the Basics: Let’s face it – everyone poops and farts. For kids who find one or both of these bodily functions hilarious, the following books provide fundamental, straightforward information that might help kids better understand and write about bodily functions in an informative way. Two of the books, Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi (Kane Miller, 1993) and T​he Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts by Shinta Cho (Kane Miller, 1994) have a classic appeal. 

Playful Narratives: Both Smelly Peggy by Helen Stephens (Candlewick Press, 2025) and Those Are Not My Underpants by Melissa Martin and Troy Cummings (Random House, 2021) offer early elementary students possibilities for infusing poop and underwear into stories in a meaningful way, rather than just plopping it into their writing for a cheap laugh.

THE BOTTOM LINE: These books bridge children’s natural curiosity about bodily functions and meaningful educational content. Providing high-quality mentor texts empowers young writers to explore “taboo” topics with humor, intelligence, and respect.

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BOOK GIVEAWAY: Thanks to the following publishers for donating books: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Candlewick Press, Charlesbridge, Dial Books, Kane Miller, Kids Can Press, Millbrook Press, Penguin Workshop, Random House, Scholastic, St. Martin’s Press, and Viking.

Prize: THREE winners will each receive books from TWO of the categories listed below.

How to Enter:

1. Comment on this post by Thursday, November 21st at 11:59 p.m. EST.
2. Specify the THREE book categories that interest you most.
3. Provide a valid U.S. mailing address and email address.

Book Categories:

• Beyond the Gross-Out: A Stinky History of Toilets, Fish Farts, and Poopy Science
• Comic Appeal: No One Likes a Burp, No One Likes a Fart, and I’m Trying to Love Germs
• Digestive Diseases: Gut Reaction and The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet
• Droppings and Discoveries: Poo-Dunit?, Poop: A Natural History of the Unmentionable, Poop for Breakfast, What Do They Do With All That Poo?, and Whose Poop Is That?
• Exploring the Basics: Everyone Poops and The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts
• Playful Narratives: Smelly Peggy and Those Are Not My Underpants

Winner Selection:

• Winners will be randomly selected and announced at the bottom of this post by Sunday, Nov. 24th.
• Winners will receive an email from me, with the subject line TWO WRITING TEACHERS – TRICKY TOPICS.
• Winners must respond with their mailing address within five days, or a new winner will be chosen. (No need to put your address in your comment.)

Note: Publishers will ship the books directly to the winners.