Steve the Dung Beetle: On a Roll

by Susan R. Stoltz, Melissa Bailey (Illustrator)

It's a beautiful day and all of the animals on the Savannah want to know one  Why is Steve the Dung Beetle rolling that big ball of poo??

Steve is hard at work rolling a ball of poo past the river, over the hills, through the trees, and all the way to his home. Along the way he meets many of his animal friends, like the elephant, giraffe, warthog, and others. They all ask him the same thing, "Hey Steve! Why are you rolling that ball of poo?" 

Join Steve the Dung Beetle on a hilarious and educational journey, as Steve teaches all of his friends why he is constantly rolling poo, how it helps each of them, and why his work is so important for the environment. 

This beautifully illustrated book is the perfect combination of entertainment and education. Parents and teachers will appreciate the important information this book provides, while kids will fall in love with Steve and this truly unique bug-based adventure! 

Ideal for kids ages 3-10 and grades K-3, this book is filled with mind-boggling facts, much like Krystal Monique Toney's  The Fascinating Bug Book For Kids , and National Geographic's  The Ultimate Bug-Opedia,  as well as a page full of side-splitting jokes at the end. 

Suggested 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, and grades K-3

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Nonfiction, Nature, Storytime, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 15, 2022

Reviews

[Wendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and hilarious with beautiful illustrations! I don't think my son and I have ever laughed so much while reading!

[Amanda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most adorable poo story that I've ever read!

It takes a good amount of character to release a book about Dung Beetles ... why you ask? Well because if the writer is writing about Dung Beetles, then they HAVE to write about poo! What q wonderful story about Steve,a delightfully positive Dung Beetle, who, along his journey of bringing poo to his home and family, shares with other creatures how important his job is in this world we all live in. Give it a read, you'll be glad you did! The author does an outstanding job of detailing (in short, easy, and fun sentences) just how important a Dung Beetle is to this land we all come home. A brilliant short storybook.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortly after saying I could see the creators here building a set (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I realised I had this in my to-read file, too – and while a different beast to a gentle story of a tiara-fancying giraffe, this has many of the same qualities. It's a lesson in African wildlife where we never feel like we're tied to the chair until we learn things, and so extra kudos for including the pangolin here, with some notes as to how it's so endangered (if not precisely why – would the Chinese printers have anything to do with that?!). Anyway, the dung beetle of our story goes past no end of other African beasts and birds, all of whom know his name (Steve, of course) but not what he's doing. Every answer he gives is different, until we see the truth at the end in all its foul glory. Steve makes a hyena laugh, as he well and truly should, and has an incredible near-miss with a certain lion that will have the target audience howling too. Once more a strong four stars for inventive and very attractive looks at early nature lessons.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm on a roll with finding funny and education poop books. Steve is for the slightly older crowd (5 and up) who likes science and finds poo interesting. The facts about Dung Beetles do not stink, but a refreshing, honest look at how the dung beetle helps other creatures and the environment in a story format. Facts at the end include more about the dung beetle, some of the animals mentioned (each having its label on its page) and some corny poop jokes. (What is a dung beetles favorite number?)

[Jeretta Hall-Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and educational look at dung beetles. There is an introduction of several different animals across Africa and you are treated with quick facts about why the dung beetle uses dung. And the best part, in the very back of the book are facts about dung beetles, other animals the dung beetle meets, and dung beetle jokes! Definitely give to a little one that loves bugs and a sense of humor for poop jokes.

[Mary Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book --so much information, even for an adult like me, eg 1 fact is that dung beetles use the stars to find their way.

Also up to 10,000 different species, and each specie eats and rolls mostly its favorite type of poop.

Other animals with great illustrations and labeled.

Gorgeous and accurate paintings.

Recommend for tchers and parents.

[Mark Restaino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy dung! This book is good!

I never thought I would be facinated with and learn so much about dung and dung beetles. And the Illustrations were beautiful. This would be a great book for any kid who loves bugs (so pretty much every kid) 😄

[Darrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scatological humor is not my thing. And I know that I am in the minority. But this book manages to be cute while being highly informative and well-researched. A very interesting and educational read. Great for second and third graders.

[Barbara Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations

Preschooler jokes about poo will delight not just kids but Dads too
Thought provoking interchanges help kids think in new ways
Fun to read.

[Cindy Ninni Ninni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids will find this book fascinating.
They will discover different reasons why dung beetles keep their poo and what it’s good for.
Who knew???
The illustrations are wonderful!

[Bess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of this book and even the artwork. But I wasn't drawn into the words and even found them obnoxious.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this accessible picture book about dung beetles - which is oddly fascinating

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my K and 1st grade students this week. I read What Do They Do With All That Poo? as a non fiction companion. A fun, hit storytime!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative with expressive art. I kept thinking of the book Gregor the Overlander and the dung beetles.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

the poop jokes at the back are favorites with all the grands

[Linda Yeatts · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charmer! I learned so much and had a ton of fun doing it. I will remember a thank you for the humble little dung beetle and the incredible way it makes life better for all of us as it unassumedly rolls dung balls to amazing heights!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortly after saying I could see the creators here building a set (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I realised I had this in my to-read file, too – and while a different beast to a gentle story of a tiara-fancying giraffe, this has many of the same qualities. It's a lesson in African wildlife where we never feel like we're tied to the chair until we learn things, and so extra kudos for including the pangolin here, with some notes as to how it's so endangered (if not precisely why – would the Chinese printers have anything to do with that?!). Anyway, the dung beetle of our story goes past no end of other African beasts and birds, all of whom know his name (Steve, of course) but not what he's doing. Every answer he gives is different, until we see the truth at the end in all its foul glory. Steve makes a hyena laugh, as he well and truly should, and has an incredible near-miss with a certain lion that will have the target audience howling too. Once more a strong four stars for inventive and very attractive looks at early nature lessons.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. This is a 4 star book for its information and a three star for its lame jokes and dialog. A dung beetle named Steve is questioned by a variety of animals about what he is doing. What makes the story clunky are the responses of the animals, which feel as if the author is telling the reader (or listener) what to think.

[Johnny Childers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very informational and fun to read. It had very good pictures to show what was going on in the story but also did a good job informing about why the dung beatle does what it does and how it helps the environment.

[Marie-Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long for the toddlers, would be helpful for primary if they do the insect unit.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for our library.