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A brilliant title for the kidlit audience, but I have to admit that I was intrigued, too! Readers learn the scientific term for eating poop: coprophagy, and how to correctly pronounce it. At the same time, they learn that the subject is really not a joke: some animals need to eat poop to survive.
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Filled with amazing facts, ranging from butterflies that eat poop (a necessary gift from the male to the female!), to birds (fastidious housekeepers), to dogs and cats (critical for puppies/kittens), to baby elephants (need mom’s bacteria), to termites (wood is hard to digest), to those with short digestive tracts (a second go round is crucial), and those that are “hind-gut fermentors” (I just love this term)…
…So many different, fascinating reasons. The book answered questions I didn’t even know I had. We are so lucky to live in such an amazing, astounding, complex world!
For those with canine fur babies, scientists are still trying to figure out why dogs continue to eat poop even when they’re not parenting.
The illustrations are perfect for the tone of the book—fun, but clear and informative. Truly an inspired STEM book!
Activities:
This week focuses on book pairings, because they all have a different take on animal poop.
Pair this book with What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz, illus. by Allison Black. Both of these books are considered nonfiction. Why?
Pair this book with Poo-Dunit?: A Forest Floor Mystery by Katelyn Aronson, illus. by Stephanie Laberis. This book is considered informational fiction. Why? How is it different from Poop for Breakfast?
Pair this book with Life-Sized Animal Poop by John Townsend. This book extends the discussion of identifying animal poop, by showing the actual form and size of different animals’ poop. Kids will love the elephant “spread.”
Title: Poop for Breakfast: Why Some Animals Eat It
Author: Sara Levine
Illustrator: Florence Weiser
Publisher: Millbrook/Lerner, 2023
Ages: Elementary school
Themes: animal digestive systems, biology, STEM, poop
For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.
Jilanne Hoffmann 
Once in a great while I read a synopsis for a book and wish I had come up with the idea first. This is that book.
You and me, both!
This does sound like an interesting book. I think it’s good for kids to learn that scientists don’t know everything and are still trying to figure things out. I’ll try to check this one out. Thanks for telling me about it. By the way, I was finally able to sign up for your blog by doing it on my phone. It didn’t work when I did it on either of my computers. I have a bug somewhere!
I think you’ll enjoy this book. So much fascinating information!
So strange that you weren’t able to sign up in the usual way. Technology can be buggy, but I’m glad you figured out a way to do it!