That's Gross!: Icky Facts That Will Test Your Gross-Out Factor

by Crispin Boyer

Tired of having to contain your hidden urge to fart and finger-pick? Can't get enough of foul food and flies? Get ready to gross out all of your friends with these hysterically nauseating facts about all things gross and gruesome. Bringing together the slimiest, smelliest, and stickiest topics imaginable, That's Gross, is chock-full of foul facts that are guaranteed to make your stomach churn. Each chapter is packed with icky information, wacky and colorful pictures, and sickening sidebarsthat will make you say "That's Gross!" Hold on to your stomach while we explore the world of barf, bugs, boogers, and other things your parents won't like.

With lively and humorous prose, high-interest subjects, and truly disgusting photos, this book will have kids glued to the page while they learn the facts, history and scientific details of "eww". Kids will be so captivated by the gross-out factor that they won't even realize how much they're learning. They might even discover that these skin-crawling truths are just a part of everyday life! 

Chapters include:
 • The History of Grossness
 • Your Abominable Body
 • Gross Animals
 • Gross Bugs
 • Dead Things
 • Gross Around the World
 • Gross Pop Culture
 • Everyday Grossness
 • Gross Fun
 • Glossary of Gross

Other elements include the "Happy Place," featuring adorable baby animals just in case the grossness is too overwhelming; a "Gag Gauge" to rank the level of grossness of each topic; plus gross experiments, games, and more.

Genres: Science, Childrens, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2012

About the author

Crispin Boyer lives in San Francisco and writes about history, wildlife, and technology. He and his wife, Ramah, are the lord and lady of a 1914 Victorian that is 700 times smaller than a typical castle but almost as drafty. Their microwave might not roast an ox like most medieval ovens, but at least their bathroom isn't a hole in the wall that empties into a stinky moat.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read some of the book that interested her.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My niece thinks this book is just great! She likes me to read it to her, and she likes to read it on her own as well. It is pretty fascinating, but it's also a bit much for my nephew and me, and we can only handle it in small doses. It is gross, and he and I spend a lot of time on the "happy place" page.

This book is full of pictures, bright colors, and text that is clearly aimed at middle to older elementary grades. I frequently trip over the occasionally tongue twister text, and honestly, I find that that decreases my (for lack of a better term) "enjoyment" of this book. The book is well done, but it's tough for those of a sensitive disposition.

[Lesley P.]

National Geographic Kids knows how to hit on subjects that kids love to read about. I have visions of kids gathered around the library table or talking in the lunch room about all the gross stuff they read about in "That's GROSS! What fun, cool pictures easy to read.

[Heri · Rating 4 out of 5]

lucu, jijik, geli, penasaran, kagum, kaget, bingung, ga nyaman tapi menambah wawasan pengetahuan soal segala hal yg jorok, seram dan menjijikkan. cocok dibaca untuk anak-anak, remaja dan dewasa asalkan tidak betul-betul mempraktekkan bab terakhir kecuali kalau memang nekad putus hubungan keluarga dan tidak mau punya teman lagi

[Gianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good for when you dont have a book to read and you want to read a nice easy fun book. Even though you get grossed out you learn new facts and you discover new things.

[Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT is truly gross.I had to look at the happy place all the time.

[Anne Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both interesting and unpleasant at various times, this book may appeal to kids with an interest in science and a love of disgusting things. It didn't make me ill, though; unless you have a very weak stomach, you should be fine reading this. For me, the section on grossness in the home was the most shudders (I can't even handle reading about bed bugs, sorry). The most ridiculous section was the pop culture chapter - I guess any way they can squeeze in a discussion of Voldemort, they're going to do it. However, the pages on comparing Patrick Star to a real sea star, and other such cartoon versions of real things, was rather entertaining and interesting.

An okay addition to a family library, as some of it can really provoke interest, curiosity, and further questions. There are more important and likely more reliable science books for young readers out there, but this might just the ticket at the right moment for some kids.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheesh! This book took us forever to read, but not because it's boring or too overwhelming. If anything, it was just a bit too gross. We'd read a couple of pages each night, sometimes as long as a chapter. But we could only take this book in small doses; more than once our oldest asked me to stop because the subject matter grossed her out. (She's my sensitive soul.) Her younger sister had already read this book independently and was itching for us to read more.

Overall, I thought this was an entertaining and informative book that is likely to appeal to elementary- and middle-school age children. We really enjoyed reading it together.

[Eunice AYHY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite different compare to other books. It's not a normal fiction book, it's a non-fiction book, I guess. I'm interested in this book because it's a fact book, it tells you many real information but in a GROSS way. I always think that the author is really creative to think such good ideas. Yup, this book mainly talks about gross facts all around the world. Although it's quite gross, but the content is really awesome and interesting. I'll highly recommend all of you to read this book.You'll learn a lesson after reading this book.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short passages, but lots of things to teach about language and writing--if you can get past the grossness! Boys will probably love it. Some pages were a little too much for me, but I read them because the text was engaging. Then I just wanted to forget what I'd read. My take-away: we live in a really weird world.

[Ashley Riches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well lets just say that there are things that some people really don't want to know in there. However at the same time if it keeps me from getting sick in the future I will be grateful!!! Very grateful seeing how is my immune system is shot!

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly disgusting. My students enjoyed hearing about: Medieval Europe p.15, cyclops sharks p. 68, the Guinea worm p. 87, terrifying tapeworms p.89, Dessert: Giant Waterbug p. 111, and the Snot Ball p. 132.

[Jojobean · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was cool. The facts are totally gross and disgusting but thats point.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will appeal to all the kids who love the yuck factor!