Zapbasket Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I have written a children's book whose main protagonist is a piece of poo. It's in a rhyme scheme and is written in such a way that both children and adults would find it engaging. I am confident that the writing and the tone are good. But I worry about the subject matter. I have not yet consulted with a publisher or agent. I am instead right now soliciting parents' opinions on whether they would ever think a book about the trials and tribulations of a piece of poop would be something they'd like in their children's hands, and if so, under what conditions, if any. Opinions much appreciated; thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
GorillaTheater Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I have some younger kids who go off into gails of wild laughter at the mere mention of the word "poop", and if I saw the word in the title of a book in the kid's section of the bookstore I'd certainly be intrigued enough to check it out, but yeah, I can't help but think there may be some marketing issues. Link to post Share on other sites
Afishwithabike Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 No, I wouldn't read it to my child because of my own hangups with poop stories. I'm sure my child would find it interesting. I'm curious about the subject matter. Is this a potty training book? Is this a book to teach kids about bodily functions. Link to post Share on other sites
Finch Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 While children do find the word poop hilarious (along with words like bum, naked, and fart) they do so because they are learning about boundaries, bodily functions and body parts, and what is socially appropriate. It's also something that many of them phase into and then quickly outgrow. What is the point of this book? Is it to teach something? If it's just a regular story where the character is made of poo it might have a very limited audience. Just because children find the idea of poop funny, doesn't necessarily mean they, or the parents, desire their literature to have scatological main characters. Some might adore it, some may find it repulsive. Link to post Share on other sites
Mme. Chaucer Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I'm mostly interested in why YOU became interested in the trials and tribulations of a piece of poop! Were you inspired by Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poop? Link to post Share on other sites
Feelin Frisky Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 It's eyes, nose and mouth are made of kernels of corn, right? Link to post Share on other sites
Mme. Chaucer Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I am instead right now soliciting parents' opinions on whether they would ever think a book about the trials and tribulations of a piece of poop would be something they'd like in their children's hands, and if so, under what conditions, if any. The parents would much prefer the book to the piece of poop in their children's hands! Bwaahahaha! I think poop is hilarious and I would have loved to find such a book when my child was little - if it was funny and smartly written, of course. We certainly enjoyed "Walter the Farting Dog." Also much beloved were the "Grossology" books. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Zapbasket Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 No, I wouldn't read it to my child because of my own hangups with poop stories. Now you've made me curious. What are your hangups regarding poop? I'm curious because it's helpful for me to know what I'd be up against if I decided to pursue publication of this book. I'm curious about the subject matter. Is this a potty training book? Is this a book to teach kids about bodily functions. No, neither. It's allegorical, which is it's potential appeal to adults for their reading pleasure...but it's also about coming to the realization that all things have their place, and even so it's sometimes worthwhile to question things. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Zapbasket Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 I'm mostly interested in why YOU became interested in the trials and tribulations of a piece of poop! Were you inspired by Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poop? No, the idea and initial sketches for this book well preceded South Park. Re: your question, I can't say I'm avidly interested in the trials and tribulations of a poo, but I have an active imagination and one day years ago it got me thinking along certain lines... Link to post Share on other sites
Author Zapbasket Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 The parents would much prefer the book to the piece of poop in their children's hands! Bwaahahaha! I think poop is hilarious and I would have loved to find such a book when my child was little - if it was funny and smartly written, of course. We certainly enjoyed "Walter the Farting Dog." Also much beloved were the "Grossology" books. Ha! I didn't know there was a "Walter the Farting Dog" book. I'll have to check it out, and refresh myself with the Grossology books. Thanks! It's fascinating to me that some people will have NOTHING to do with even the subject of poo. Without further a-doo (har har) they will banish the subject and think no further on it. Whereas there are people like me (and you) who still, as adults, get a giggle or two at the subject of poop. What accounts for the difference, in your opinion, between those of us who are amused at scatological subjects and those of us who are purely disgusted? Link to post Share on other sites
Afishwithabike Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Walter the Farting Dog is funny. In my childhood, there were the Garbage Pail kids. I wonder if anyone remembers them. They were pretty gross. I found them very interesting. Now you've made me curious. What are your hangups regarding poop? I'm curious because it's helpful for me to know what I'd be up against if I decided to pursue publication of this book. I can handle/clean up/read about pee, menstrual blood, vomit just fine, but poop stories gross me out. When I had to potty train our child, I was glad the children's potty training books didn't have poop pictures. Link to post Share on other sites
kismicallychal Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I'm a trained teacher working in childcare and I have to say that I would read a book about poop any day! Mostly because there are so few books on toilet training/bodily functions, so one more is always welcome, and a poop book would be a perfect lead into a discussion on using the toilet, washing hands, toilet safety, etc, etc. And even though I don't have children of my own I would say that i would probably read a story about poop to my children because you can never read enough books to kids and yeah kids love books with the word 'poo' or 'bum' in them, gets a good giggle! Link to post Share on other sites
Stung Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I wondered about Mr. Hanky as well . In my childhood, there were the Garbage Pail kids. I wonder if anyone remembers them. They were pretty gross. I found them very interesting. Yes, I remember them. I had a collection of the trading cards. I read my son "Everyone Poops" all the time, and we are in the middle of potty training. I might not read him a book in which a piece of poo is the sympathetic protagonist at the age he is right now, because I don't particularly want him to start sympathizing with and anthropomorphizing poo in his mind, which might run interference on the potty training process--but when he's a bit older, why not? If it's amusing and well-written... Link to post Share on other sites
Author Zapbasket Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 I read my son "Everyone Poops" all the time, and we are in the middle of potty training. I might not read him a book in which a piece of poo is the sympathetic protagonist at the age he is right now, because I don't particularly want him to start sympathizing with and anthropomorphizing poo in his mind, which might run interference on the potty training process--but when he's a bit older, why not? If it's amusing and well-written... "Everyone Poops" is a GREAT book; the authors of that book also wrote another book appropriate for potty-training-aged children entitled, "The Gas We Pass." Also a fun book. And, for a little hilarity, there's a WONDERFUL book called, "The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit." It's a good corollary to "Everyone Poops" in theme. (I've done my research! ) Re: not wanting your son to sympathize with / anthropomorphize poop lest it interfere with the potty-training process--that's a good point. The protagonist poop in my story has a little friend who is in the process of potty training, and has just learned that poop must be flushed away from our homes by means of the toilet. Would you not read a story like that to your son? That's a useful piece of data for me given I wrote this story thinking it would appeal to children of a range of ages, such that a 2- or 3-year-old would take different things from it than, say, a 7- or 8-year-old. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Zapbasket Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 Walter the Farting Dog is funny. In my childhood, there were the Garbage Pail kids. I wonder if anyone remembers them. They were pretty gross. I found them very interesting. I can handle/clean up/read about pee, menstrual blood, vomit just fine, but poop stories gross me out. When I had to potty train our child, I was glad the children's potty training books didn't have poop pictures. Gosh, I'd much rather clean up poop than puke...unless, of course, it's diarrhea! So far what I'm getting from the responses to this thread is that some people will find a poop book funny and perfectly appropriate to read to their children...and due to the nature of the subject, some will find it repugnant, especially given that this poop is animate. But: from this small sample on LS it sounds like the people who would find the book funny are sufficient in number to convince a publisher to sign the book. I really appreciate everyone's thoughts! Link to post Share on other sites
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