GROSS

SICKENING

REPUGNANT

NAUSEATING

Need I say more?

Why yes, middle graders are going to love this new title from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS. Here’s the vile and disgusting background straight from the source:

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From wretched rodents and beastly bugs to putrid plants and muck-filled moats, grab a seat at the table to revel in some of the most repulsive and downright disgusting true stories from around the globe. The gloriously gross stories go way beyond food to include art, plants, animals, fashion, pop culture, medicine, the human body, and beyond. It’s a hot mess to digest, but it’s sure to leave kids disgusted and delighted. 

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More than 60 two-page colorful spreads lay out all the repulsive details. The pictures alone will have your face scrunching in every direction. You might look away for a second, but you’ll soon be back reading all about the whys and hows.

Besides getting reluctant readers to actually put their face into a book, here’s are a few of the highlights:

1. A YUCK-O-METER accompanies each stomach turning feature. It starts out with EWW  and gets increasingly more yucky with GROSS and NASTY,  I did what many 10-12 year olds would do and went straight to the highest grossness alert with those labelled DISGUSTING. My face scrunched up reading such classics as:

• THE DIRT ON DOO-DOO
• REVOLTING RECORDS
• HORRIBLE HABITS OF ANCIENT ROME
• WADS OF WORMS
• MEET THE MUMMIES
• HORRIBLE HUNTING HABITS
• A MAGGOTY MOUTHFUL
• SICKENING SURGERY
• FRIGHTENING FOUL FLIES
• WASTE FILLED WORLD
• EXHIBITIONS OF EWWW

2. I needed a break before reading the rest of the book. It came on page 60-61 with THIS IS YOUR HAPPY PLACE. Just pictures of cuteness in our world. My stomach settled and I was ready to tackle the remaining less disgusting pages.

3. Five fun and informative quizzes are spaced throughout. They include HOW SQUEAMISH ARE YOU?; GROSSBUSTERS!; NAME THAT SLIMY STUFF!; GERM DETECTIVE; and GROSS ANIMALS.

You’ve been warned! Go ahead and take the plunge and order a copy today.

Yes, you can judge this book by its cover.