By Andy Seed (author) , Claire Almon (illustrator)
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Anyone who fancies becoming a nature detective needs a copy of this book. Over pages packed with colour illustrations and animal facts, it explains how to read the signs that wild creatures leave, whether that’s paw tracks, a tuft of fur, a hole in the ground, or a pile of poo. The first section is poo based, with pages called Faeces Fun and Who Dung It?, but lots of other things are covered too including where and how animals build their homes and how you can spot who’s been eating what.
Text and illustrations are engaging and lively and this is a book as entertaining as it is informative.
Wild creatures leave a trail of clues wherever they go. Be a fearless nature detective and discover the curious clues of the wild. A fascinating and funny guide to animals and their poo, and all the other tracks and traces they leave behind.
Read the full description
You will be amazed (and perhaps a little revolted!) by the things that can be learned about wildlife from their deposits. Become a detective, find clues and learn all about animals from what they leave behind. From faeces to footprints, skins to shells and eggs, discover all there is to know about wild animals – even those that are particularly dangerous to track like tigers and wolves!
Whether you're an armchair enthusiast or a forest forager, one thing's for sure: this fully illustrated compendium of poops, pellets and prints is not to be sniffed at!
Andy Seed is an author and poet. He writes memoirs, funny poems and humorous non-fiction books as well as all sorts of things for teachers. Two of his greatest passions are cheese and table tennis, which he feels sure could be combined somehow one day. Andy lives on the side of a hill in the woolly wilds of North Yorkshire where he grows comedy vegetables and the best weeds for miles around. He also loves visiting schools and getting children reading for enjoyment. Andy's most popular book for adults is All Teachers Great and Small and his most popular book for children is The Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff , which won the 2015 Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award.
Read a Q&A with Andy Seed:
Describe your book in about 15 words:
A fun guide to being a nature detective and discovering animals from the clues they leave behind.
How do you get the ideas for your books, especially The Clue is in the Poo?
I spend a lot of time with kids and I know the types of things that interest them and also parents and teachers. I read a lot, do research at the library, travel around a lot and explore wild places (and get lost a lot). I also collect interesting snippets and facts and true stories that can be used to make good books. And then it’s a case of adding some funny bits, maybe a splash of silliness and making it enjoyable to read. With ‘The Clue is in the Poo’ I borrowed lots of big detailed books about animal tracks and signs from my local library and used them to learn things I didn’t know. Then I walked around the forest where I live and I looked at the kinds of things that children are most likely to come across and be interested in. Then I added facts about dangerous and very large, exotic creatures, to add a thrill element, and there was a book that was useful, enjoyable and interesting.
What is your favourite children’s book? Both right now and when you were a child. Why?
Right now, I think The Iron Man by Ted Hughes is just a great, simple, powerful story. When I was young it was Stig of the Dump – it took you into a magical, wild and adventurous world. My current fact-book fav is The Usborne Official Astronaut’s Handbook (Louie Stowell) – this combines brilliantly info, wit, stories, great illustrations and expert knowledge. Outstanding.
Why are books important to you?
Stories give you a chance to enter another world and learn about other people and happenings you’ll probably never encounter. But for a time you are there, in it, living it. Our minds when we read great stories paint far more vivid pictures than any digital screen ever will.
Factual books I love too: true stories (biographies and memoirs) tell us about real amazing lives and events. Then who doesn’t love a wacky random fact or a clever explanation of the way that some small part of the world or nature works? And if a book can make me laugh too then that’s the best thing of all: we all need to giggle.
And poetry is wonderful too: playing with words to bring alive wit and fun and power.
Choose one thing that you would like your readers to take away after reading your book:
That there are clues to wildlife activity everywhere – and even a pile of poo can tell you a lot!
Did anything surprising happen during the writing of your book?
Living on the edge of a forest I was able to go for walks and see loads of the clues I was writing about and now I notice a lot more than I used to. On one of these research rambles I came face to face with a very big and fierce-looking wild boar. Luckily it didn’t consider me worth mangling!
the best books for 9-12 year olds
This book was very fascinating but very gruesome. It is all about poo and how you can tell one poo from another one. I am glad it is not scratch and sniff!
There is lots of poo in this book! It shows you how to be an adventurer and if you come across a poo who it might be from. I live in Wales and see lots of sheep poo but am not probably going to see an elephant poo. It has good advice on tracking animals and birds without disturbing them or their homes which is super important! The tracks of the animal feet also give us clues on how they walk and I liked learning all the new words for animal groups and homes.... Read Full Review
An amazing book about animals and how to be an animal detective.
This is a brilliant book. It tells you all about tracking and how to be an animal detective. It has everything in from poo to feathers to footprints to skulls. I liked the illustrations, they are really funny. Some of it is a bit gross, but at the same time interesting. I didn't like the polecat's frog leftovers. There are some easy quizzes to do in the book which I liked. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in animals.... Read Full Review
What 7-year-old child wouldn't be attracted to a book all about poo?
Olivia has been reading sections from this non-fiction book at bed time. She was instantly curious as it's all about poo (and more too).
We weren't exactly sure what to expect with this book but it has actually been a really fascinating read. There is information about how to identify animals and the foods they eat from their waste. It has made us more observant when walking through the park and on the school run! Perfect for science enthusiasts and nature lovers. We liked looking at all the fun vocabulary choices and puns in the book. It's written in a fun and engaging way.
The book has short sections and fun facts and quizzes to 'test' your understanding. It is not all about poo though.... Read Full Review
Wild creatures leave a trail of clues wherever they go. Be a fearless nature detective and discover the curious clues of the wild.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Clue is in the Poo and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-10 years old
The Clue is in the Poo features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommendations, Featured Books for 7+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. Not Available.
The Clue is in the Poo was written by Andy Seed and published by words & pictures an imprint of Quarto Publishing PLC
The Clue is in the Poo has 64 pages
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