Unit 1 (International Lit) Book Review Everyone Poops

 

1. Bibliography Gomi, Tarō. 1993. Everyone Poops. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780916291457.

2. Plot Summary Let’s not beat around the bush: Everyone Poops is EXACTLY what the title says. No metaphors here!!!! It literally goes from the tiniest of bugs to the biggest elephants, all the way through to humans. This classic Japanese picture book puts it ALL out there; if something eats, it poops. (Which I mean biologically, we know. It’s science. But definitely not something that is talked about so frankly, and with added pictures usually in our culture). With matter-of-fact text and simple illustrations, Tarō Gomi strips away the taboo and gets kids and young readers thinking about the one thing nobody really talks about but everybody does. Yes, I do mean EVERYBODY. It goes into detail describing how different animals have different size poops, different smelling poops, and even so far as to say that while some animals poop on the go and don’t’ care WHERE they go, others will clean up after themselves.

3. Critical analysis (including cultural markers) So, how do you turn bodily functions into a learning moment? Apparently, in Gomi’s case, with honesty and just a dash of humor! Originally published in Japan, this book brings a very culturally distinct tone to the topic. No embarrassment, no tiptoeing, no cutesy wordplay. Just a straightforward, slightly quirky explanation of a normal biological process. Which, some could be said is a bending when it is translated, but it really does seem to have that no-nonsense tone for talking about a nonfiction topic. While our for our young American readers, that tone can be… surprising. Maybe even uncomfortable. The kind of thing that makes a classroom full of kindergarteners giggle and parents want to facepalm. But that’s kind of the point. Gomi’s art is simple, colorful, and accessible, and the structure of the book is clean (pun not intended but appreciated). It doesn’t follow a traditional narrative, the way a lot of our nonfiction picture books have in past classes that we’ve studied. It’s more like a scientific observation in picture book form. I’d loosely compare it to the Nat Geo 100 Facts type books. Different animals are shown eating, walking, and yes, pooping. The human connection doesn’t come until later in the book, which gives kids time to laugh, point, and settle into the idea before recognizing themselves in the pages. And that’s where the magic is. It’s matter of fact, and oddly, weirdly, reassuring. There’s a subtle cultural marker here in how the book treats a gross (to us) subject as educational. In Japanese culture, discussions about bodily functions tend to be less hush hush than in many Western cultures. Here in the U.S., a book like this still feels a little bold, even decades later. ( I honestly couldn’t believe it when I saw the publication date!) But the value it brings is undeniable. It’s a brilliant example of how international literature for kids can challenge norms and broaden comfort zones in unexpected ways, and continue to help us grow as readers and society members.

4. Review Excerpts
Horn Book: “Never before had we seen such a cheeky presentation of so many creatures’ bare backsides and what comes out of them. The text is a combination of straightforward information (“All living things eat, so everyone poops”) and silliness (“A one-hump camel makes a one-hump poop. And a two-hump camel makes a two-hump poop. Only kidding!”). Some, including The Horn Book, praised its child-friendly — and funny — presentation of a normal bodily function.”

School Library Journal: “Taro Gomi’s Everyone Poops is a go-to for most grown-ups as they embark on the potty training journey with their little ones.”

**No Awards**

5. Connections
This would be a fun (and funny) addition to a classroom or library display on books that explore the human body or nonfiction for early readers. Pair it with other straightforward informational texts like:

• Cole, Joanna. The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body.
• Gravett, Emily. Wolf Won’t Bite! (for humor and animal facts)
• Davies, Nicola. What’s Eating You? Parasites—The Inside Story.

Or group it with other international books that explore everyday life topics in surprising ways. You could even do a thematic lesson on "things we all do, but don’t always talk about" and spark some great (if slightly giggly) discussion.