From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6–This lively title is for children who love stomach-flipping facts, most of which are connected to the human body. Whether describing the mites that live on dead skin or in the nose and around eyelashes or maggots that clean out pus, the information is presented in a witty manner that is sure to keep readers turning pages to discover more. Additional details are provided by cartoon characters named Scientist A and Scientist B. Puns and wordplays abound as the text reveals tidbits about dandruff (complete with a shiny black "Dandruff Landing Pad"), ear wax, tooth scum, and digestive difficulties that are unsuited for polite conversation. Chapter headings include "Sickening Skin," "Hideous Healing," "House of Wax (and Other Leaky, Oozy Things)," "What a Gas," and "V Is for Vomit." Szpirglas proves that gross facts are cool, and the book may just convince kids who think science is boring to take another look.–Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Sally Bender, Brandon This Week 07/04/2004
Nothing is too sacred... mucus, gas, parasites, slime, tears... each finds a place in this well-researched and documented text.


Felissa R. Lashley, Science Books and Films 07/15/2004
Plentiful illustrations... subtle humor... each topic is succinctly and accurately covered.


Children's Digest 09/2004
Will have you laughing -- but also learning about human and animal biology.


Book Description
An eye-opening, stomach-turning look at the world around us. Gross Universe reveals the science behind all the disgusting things that kids love to talk about. From mucus to vomit, from farts to phlegm, nothing is off limits. It's not always pretty, but it is fascinating. Find out why we need scabs, how saliva keeps our teeth clean, and why pus is a "Perfectly Understandable Secretion." With his wicked sense of humor, Szpirglas delves into the topics that kids find irresistibly revolting: - Games you should never play, such as Komodo Dragon Spin-the-Bottle - Fun activities, such as the Dandruff Landing Pad - Scientist A and Scientist B, who help break down scientific facts for young readers Topics covered include: - Sickening skin - The hideous healing process - Spectacular stenches - Things that ooze - Open up and say...Eugh! - Foul fossils and putrid prehistory - What a gas! - Mad about mucus - V is for vomit Gross Universe will keep young audiences laughing and learning as they uncover the science behind some of life's more odious occurrences.


About the Author
Jeff Szpirglas has been a writer for television and radio, and a children's bookseller. He is now a writer for Owl, Chirp and ChickaDEE magazines. Michael Cho's fun and irreverent illustrations add bold visual impact to the lively text.


Excerpted from Gross Universe: Your Guide to All Disgusting Things Under the Sun by Jeff Szpirglas, Michael Cho. Copyright © 2004. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Before We Begin A Word About Your Gross Friends If you think you're going to be reading this book alone, think again. Living on and inside your body are thousands of creatures: some good, some bad, and most just plain ugly. It's a Mite, Mite World Members of the arachnid class, mites are some of the oldest animals to walk the earth, with a lineage stretching back over 370 million years. But mites don't just walk the earth, they can live in fresh and saltwater, and thrive in deserts and the tropics. Some have even been found in Antarctica, where they survive by producing a chemical that resembles antifreeze. House Dust Mites There's no point in cowering under a pillow to hide from the dust mites (of which there are dozens of species). That's where dust mites call home! Hordes of these guys live on our pillows, rugs, and mattresses. They thrive in a humid environment -- often provided by our warm, moist breath. These flesh-eaters dine on skin that has flaked off our bodies. One healthy dust mite can poop around 20 anal pellets a day. Their pellets get scattered in the air with our movements, which can cause people to suffer from problems including allergies, eczema (a skin inflammation), and asthma. Demodex Mites These eight-legged critters are shaped like tiny cigars. Their stubby legs all poke out near their front ends, forcing the mites to drag their long rear ends across your skin at speeds up to 1 cm (less than 1/2 inch) an hour. Demodex mites make themselves at home on your head, in your nose, and even around your eyelashes. Don't Forget Bacteria! Though bacteria make up less than 0.5% of your body weight, there are more bacteria living on you than there are people in the world (a thousand of them alone could fit on the head of a pin). It's been estimated that humans have 50 million individual bacteria per square centimeter (1/2 inch) of skin! Oily, sweaty places like your armpits have many more. But there are some places where you'll find little to no microbial life, like your urine storing bladder or the lower regions of the lungs. And just so you know, it's been estimated that there are nine times more bacteria in and on the human body than there are cells in the human body!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

An eye-opening, stomach-turning look at the world around us.

Gross Universe reveals the science behind all the disgusting things that kids love to talk about. From mucus to vomit, from farts to phlegm, nothing is off limits. It's not always pretty, but it is fascinating. Find out why we need scabs, how saliva keeps our teeth clean, and why pus is a "Perfectly Understandable Secretion."

With his wicked sense of humor, Szpirglas delves into the topics that kids find irresistibly revolting:Games you should never play, such as Komodo Dragon Spin-the-BottleFun activities, such as the Dandruff Landing PadScientist A and Scientist B, who help break down scientific facts for young readers

Topics covered include:Sickening skinThe hideous healing processSpectacular stenchesThings that oozeOpen up and say...Eugh!Foul fossils and putrid prehistoryWhat a gas!Mad about mucusV is for vomit

Gross Universe will keep young audiences laughing and learning as they uncover the science behind some of life's more odious occurrences.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Beverley Fahey

Better get a couple of copies of this one because it will literally fly from the library shelves. Kids like gross and Szpirglas knows just how to serve it up to them with fascinating information about pus, mucus, sweat, blood, slime and an assortment of other yucky stuff not suitable for polite dinner conversation. With enticing chapter titles like "Sweet on Slime," "Spectacular Stenches," and "H is for Hurl," he lures the reader in and then expands on all the neat, nasty details in a breezy conversational style. Hilarious cartoon illustrations and a continuous lively debate between Scientist A and Scientist B energize the text. Billing himself as someone who thinks "weird animals and gross facts are cool," Szpirglas includes an impressive list of researchers who have made every effort to make sure he got his facts straight. The icky things related may revolt you, but I just bet you will find it hard to put down. 2004, Maple Tree Press, Ages 8 to 12.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-This lively title is for children who love stomach-flipping facts, most of which are connected to the human body. Whether describing the mites that live on dead skin or in the nose and around eyelashes or maggots that clean out pus, the information is presented in a witty manner that is sure to keep readers turning pages to discover more. Additional details are provided by cartoon characters named Scientist A and Scientist B. Puns and wordplays abound as the text reveals tidbits about dandruff (complete with a shiny black "Dandruff Landing Pad"), ear wax, tooth scum, and digestive difficulties that are unsuited for polite conversation. Chapter headings include "Sickening Skin," "Hideous Healing," "House of Wax (and Other Leaky, Oozy Things)," "What a Gas," and "V Is for Vomit." Szpirglas proves that gross facts are cool, and the book may just convince kids who think science is boring to take another look.-Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews