Why Are Books Such as Everyone Poops Bestsellers?

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Books about the human body, especially those about human waste or other by-products (flatulence, scabs, mucous, tears), seem to hold a special attraction for adults and children alike. Brian Hayden, professor of psychology at Brown University, suggests that knowing more about the by-products our bodies produce helps us see the world as more predictable and more understandable. He writes that our physical bodies—one component of our "self"—produce by-products. Essentially, we create our by-products. Whether we are aware of it or not, these by-products belong to us, and at some level, we are intrigued and fascinated with what our bodies do.

Many of the following titles were first published in Japan and are only recently being published in the United States. Generally, they are receiving favorable reviews from leading journals that review children’s books and are selling well in the U.S. market. They are humorous and informative. Everyone Poops, by Taro Gomi, came out in 1993. The Holes in Your Nose, by Genichiro Yagyu, came out in March 1994, followed by The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts, written by Shinta Cho, in October of that year. In 1995, Contemplating Your Bellybutton, by Jun Nanao, was published, and in 1997, The Soles of Your Feet, by Genichiro Yagyu, appeared.

All the books focus on various aspects of the human body and human body by-products, and they are written for preschool children. Some hope that openly talking about and acknowledging these by-products may make them less of a source of embarrassment or giggles once kids enter school. Parents report using Everyone Poops when they are helping their child make the transition from diapers to using the toilet.

Source

Hayden, Brian. (1997, October). Our bodies’ by-products are the topics of some new bestsellers. Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, 13(10), 8.

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Prepared for Parent News by Debbie Reese, March 1998.

Published monthly by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Children's Research Center, 51 Gerty Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-7469. This publication was funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, under contract no. DERR93002007. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the Department of Education.

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