Written by a pediatric physician specializing in allergies, this book is not as gross as its marketing would perhaps lead you to believe; it is a well-informed, thoughtfully-made, albeit humorous tour of (some of--apparently there are historically far too many to include in one book) the bodily excretions and secretions which we have eaten or continue to consume by mouth. The, ehrm, products are loosely grouped into those we've consumed for (supposed or real) medical benefits, as well as those consumed for their deliciousness. As the introduction points out, there are far more uses for excretions and secretions than human consumption, including gunpowder, but as you might expect to include them would be to write something closer to an encyclopedia in length. I really blew through this book quickly, and found the "food" chapters most fascinating of all--everyone knows that honey is an animal secretion, but not everyone knows that the shiny coating on many candies (including candy corn) is as well, or know the origin of bird's nest soup. I'm not a huge fan of informational books which interrupt the main flow of the text with cut-aways or spotlights on *other* facts, which this book does a lot, but it's a common feature in books for kids, so it's not exactly a surprise. I could have done with fewer, though. Overall, I'd recommend this book highly for the kids who grew up loving the "Butt or Face?" books by author Kari Lavelle; this book skews older (think middle-grade), but holds a lot of appeal for those kiddos who love a good gross factoid or two!

Looking for a book to suit readers who delight in the disgusting? Then you need a copy of this exploration into every revolting thing people have put into their mouths over the centuries. Whether it is a discussion of how doctors used to taste bodily secretions (of all sorts) to diagnose illnesses, or the latest craze of fecal transplants to help restore gut health - there are no details spared.

Did you know that all water on the space station is recycled? And they do mean ALL. Or maybe you had heard that the nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie" was actually about the Black Death? Nope, historians disagree. But you can learn more about the plague or the tie between poop and coffee within these pages.

Not for the faint of heart, and not to read or discuss at the dinner table - but this could be the perfect book for a reluctant reader who is fascinated by the gross and ugly side of life. Even the chapter headings lure the curious in with phrases such as, "The Odoriferous Beaver Butt." Doesn't that make you want to find out more? If so ,it went on sale July 21, so you won't have to wait to get a copy.

During World War II, the German soldiers stationed in North Africa were getting deathly sick with dysentery. They noticed that the local Bedouins seemed to get over it quickly. After careful observation, they learned that the Bedouins cured this debilitating intestinal infection—by eating warm, fresh camel poop.

You will find this and countless other gross, disgusting, disturbing examples of how people have used poop and pee in all kinds of ways including in perfumes. You will also learn about Greek mythology, ancient Egypt, and animal biology.

Christine Virnig is a pediatric allergist and her love of science and medicine (especially ancient bad medicine) shines through. She writes these stories as if she’s standing in front of a class of fifth graders trying to get them to laugh, then gag, then laugh again. Every chapter ends with an amazingly corny joke, the kind that will be sure to make you groan. If I was a kid, I’d want her to be my doctor.

I highly recommend Dung for Dinner to readers eight and up. This is gross science at its best. Strong stomachs recommended.

Students will love this book! Absolutely disgusting, but funny, too!:)

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This is not a fault of the book, but the e-reading experience is not giving me an accurate sense of the book. I am reading on my iPad, and no illustrations are showing. The flow of the text skips around, but I think that is because the physical layout includes callout boxes, boxed text etc. But as an e-reading experience, it is not very satisfying. I appreciate you making the book available, and it was helpful to have seen the galley in a webinar. As far as the writing, It certainly is appropriately icky and gross, and when i have a change to evaluate a physical copy, I may end up ordering it or talking it up more. Thank you for the egalley!

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

Absolutely disgusting and thoroughly informative. I enjoyed it immensely!

So gross! I thought I was going to be sick when reading about the Romans and their urine drinking and pooping habits. I found this to be informative and funny. I liked the jokes at the end of each chapter. This is perfect for kids who can read about a sometimes forbidden topic, learn something, and enjoy the book. The cover is perfect and should be an eye-catcher.