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Who Pooped in the Park?
Who Pooped in the Park? Yellowstone National Park: Scat and Tracks for Kids
Watch where you step! Sometimes the animals that live in Yellowstone National Park are hard to find--but you can always find their poop! Come along with Michael, Emily, and their family as they learn about the animals in the park from their scats (poop) and tracks (footprints). This delightfully illustrated children's book follows Michael--who is afraid of bears--and his family as they encounter signs of bison, moose, elk, deer, rabbits, wolves, mountain lions, badgers, and more. The book also includes a handy reference chart with silhouettes, tracks, scats, and comments for all of the animals. Author Gary D. Robson and illustrator Elijah Brady Clark have also produced "Who Pooped in the Park?" editions for Glacier National Park and Grand Teton National Park, and more will be coming out in 2005. Pick up your copy of this unique guide to scats and tracks for kids and find out "who pooped"!
48 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2004
About the author
Gary D. Robson
37 books30 followersGary Robson never decided what he wants to be when (if?) he grows up. In addition to being a successful author with 750,000 copies of his books sold, he’s been a software engineer, microelectronics designer, adjunct college professor, curriculum designer, and voice actor. He has owned a bookstore, a tea & game shop, and a small-town newspaper. Most recently, he was executive director of a wildlife sanctuary.
Along the way, he became an expert in closed captioning technology for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, which resulted in three books, three U.S. patents, and a TEDx talk.
Throughout all of life’s journeys, one thing remained constant for Gary: writing. Dozens of books, hundreds of articles, and a handful of technical manuals. Most was nonfiction, until he tried writing children’s books. His Who Pooped in the Park series of animal scat & track books for kids are his best-known and best-selling books.
At last, Gary is semi-retired. The kids are on their own, so it’s just him, his wife, two dogs, and two cats. Settled in a small town near Yellowstone Park, surrounded by lots of books and really good tea, he finally has time to write what he loves to read: fantasy!
His latest book is The Bounds of Magic, book 1 in the Tryllevær Saga, and there’s more to come!
Along the way, he became an expert in closed captioning technology for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, which resulted in three books, three U.S. patents, and a TEDx talk.
Throughout all of life’s journeys, one thing remained constant for Gary: writing. Dozens of books, hundreds of articles, and a handful of technical manuals. Most was nonfiction, until he tried writing children’s books. His Who Pooped in the Park series of animal scat & track books for kids are his best-known and best-selling books.
At last, Gary is semi-retired. The kids are on their own, so it’s just him, his wife, two dogs, and two cats. Settled in a small town near Yellowstone Park, surrounded by lots of books and really good tea, he finally has time to write what he loves to read: fantasy!
His latest book is The Bounds of Magic, book 1 in the Tryllevær Saga, and there’s more to come!
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 4, 2021
All you need to know about wild animal identification in Yellowstone Park. This book written primarily for children , but informative to adults as well.
Tracks left by animals.. their scat or poop and paw or hoof prints are different in identifying animals.
I liked seeing the comparisons of the animals at the last page in the book.
Tracks left by animals.. their scat or poop and paw or hoof prints are different in identifying animals.
I liked seeing the comparisons of the animals at the last page in the book.
October 14, 2015
What a weird series. I mean, I can imagine one kids book on tracks and scat, but eighteen? Interesting as only scat and tracks can be, the book loses points with me at the repetitive "idiot" kid discussion. E.g. Kid: "I found poop from XYZ!" Dad/Mom: "Nope. Actually, it's ABC." Kid: "Oh, here's the track from ABC!" Dad/Mom: "Nope. Actually it's from a badger." If I were that kid, I would've been all "Enough of this, you can poke at your own poop if you want, I'm going back to the car." Kid deserves a medal.
March 25, 2020
I learned a lot about poop and animals from this gift from my kids' grandma! My preschooler and kindergartener did, too. We've read this quite a few times and I bet we'll keep reading it. I wish it were a little shorter. I also wish the book featured illustrations of younger kids because the dialogue sounds more like what younger kids would say, not what kids in the pictures would say.
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October 14, 2022Well this book is clearly about animals in Glacier National Park and what their scat looks like. the book goes through all the animals poop you can see while there: Beavers, deer, elk, rabbits, coyote, horse, badgers, mountain goat, and bear. The book also goes through some facts about the animals you will see in the national park.
August 25, 2017
Surprisingly entertaining and informative for a book that is literally all about shit. :) the art work was very nice to look at & the writing was alright. Recommended for parents who want to take their kids out camping. :)
May 29, 2023
This is a fun and engaging book about tracking animals by looking for their scat (poop) and tracks. Includes back matter with a list of animals, their scat, and tracks. Entertaining, interesting, and useful to those hiking in the national park.
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October 14, 2022I thought this book was a little different. I guess it was educational in the fact of identifying poop in the woods.
October 15, 2024
Definitely a book to be read by family pre any nature walk/hike/trip.
Would have loved to have had it when my "kids" now mature adults were first out & about in the woods eyes peeled for tracks.
Would have loved to have had it when my "kids" now mature adults were first out & about in the woods eyes peeled for tracks.
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October 12, 2016We would love to collect every "Who pooped in the ____?" book!
September 14, 2016
I have dealt with poop quite a bit in my lifetime-cleaning up after animals, diaper changes during my baby sitting years, and now TONS of diapers in motherhood. But never once have I been excited over poop......until I seen this book! Seriously y'all! When the mail lady brought the package to me I may or may not have been jumping up and down and she may or may not have ran away from the mad woman who lives in a shoe with so many children! Ok, I'm exaggerating but by golly I sure was excited over fecal matter!
This book is an awesome book. It tells a tale of a family taking a rrip to Yellowstone. On the trip Dad and Mom teach Emily and Micheal about identifying animals using the clues they leave behind, specifically scat and tracks. Who doesn't love playing Sherlock Holmes with animal scat?! My kids do!
We read the book as soon as it arrived! It was very informative. The illustrations, by Elijah Brady Clark, are well done. They match up with the authors descriptuon of the tracks making it easy to understand exactly what you're looking at and why. To explain what I mean when I say "why" I'll give a quick paraphrase from the story. The author describes a badger print and then explains why it looks the way it does, I.e. the badger has long claws that he uses like a shovel to dig his house.
Gary teaches you how to identify deer, elk, badger, bison and even the dreadful bear! But that's not all!! There are other animals mentioned. I just don't want to spoil the book! He even teaches you how to distinguish between elk and deer by examining their scat. Also you can tell how close an animal is or what they've eaten by examining it. No, nobody in the book is poking around in poo with their fingers. They go about it in nore sanitary ways.
The book also has a bit of history weaved in. You'll learn what indians used in place of firewood and the history of the word bison and buffalo. It's an informative read for anyone visiting Yellowstone, studying mountain wildlife, or who just dwells in the mountains. It's an easy read as well so it makes a great book for a second grade-ish reader and beyond. Gary handles the topic well and the illustrations are detailed yet appropriate. You won't be grossed out, I promise. Id you'll excuse me I'm off to look at the rest of Gary's series. Head on over to a FARCOUNTRY PRESS to pick up your own copy.
This book is an awesome book. It tells a tale of a family taking a rrip to Yellowstone. On the trip Dad and Mom teach Emily and Micheal about identifying animals using the clues they leave behind, specifically scat and tracks. Who doesn't love playing Sherlock Holmes with animal scat?! My kids do!
We read the book as soon as it arrived! It was very informative. The illustrations, by Elijah Brady Clark, are well done. They match up with the authors descriptuon of the tracks making it easy to understand exactly what you're looking at and why. To explain what I mean when I say "why" I'll give a quick paraphrase from the story. The author describes a badger print and then explains why it looks the way it does, I.e. the badger has long claws that he uses like a shovel to dig his house.
Gary teaches you how to identify deer, elk, badger, bison and even the dreadful bear! But that's not all!! There are other animals mentioned. I just don't want to spoil the book! He even teaches you how to distinguish between elk and deer by examining their scat. Also you can tell how close an animal is or what they've eaten by examining it. No, nobody in the book is poking around in poo with their fingers. They go about it in nore sanitary ways.
The book also has a bit of history weaved in. You'll learn what indians used in place of firewood and the history of the word bison and buffalo. It's an informative read for anyone visiting Yellowstone, studying mountain wildlife, or who just dwells in the mountains. It's an easy read as well so it makes a great book for a second grade-ish reader and beyond. Gary handles the topic well and the illustrations are detailed yet appropriate. You won't be grossed out, I promise. Id you'll excuse me I'm off to look at the rest of Gary's series. Head on over to a FARCOUNTRY PRESS to pick up your own copy.
August 10, 2009
Am just back from a week-long program at Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the U.S., established in 1872. I had marked this children's book as a "to-read" item before heading west, came across it in one of the numerous park bookstores/gift shops, purchased it and loved it. The book walks its readers through the identification of both scat (i.e., poop) and tracks for 10 signature species found in and--as I learned this week--beyond Yellowstone. The 10 animals discussed are: grizzly bear, rabbit, mule deer, elk, horse, moose, bison, gray wolf, mountain lion, and badger. Of course there are many many more animals to be enjoyed in the varied environments comprising the park, so this just scratches the proverbial surface.
The story is simple, so as to be readily understood and related to by kids of a young age (I'd estimate anywhere from 6 years of age on up). It tells the story of a typical white family with one son and one daughter visiting the park. The kids have heard about the assorted wildlife attractions and the son is actually frightened of the grizzly bear. Within that context, their parents alleviate some of the fear by showing that you can "see" animals without actually having to encounter them first-hand. Select pages are complemented by box text identified as "The Straight Poop," and they relate the scat and tracks to larger wildlife issues within the park unit (e.g., the 1995 restoration of gray wolves to the ecosystem). At the very back of the book are two pages that succinctly sum up all the information learned and could make a nice family reference to stuff into a backpack as you head off into the back country or one of the shorter trails near any of the major nodes within the park.
To be sure, the story focuses on Yellowstone. It gives information, however, that can be taken well beyond the realm of the Yellowstone context. In my estimation, the book's greatest strength is in showing kids--and the adults who hang with them--how to begin to more thoughtfully see animals in the world around them. It will pique peoples' curiousity and, hopefully, their respect for our pawed and hooved co-residents. The book is truly a "keeper"--hence the five stars.
The story is simple, so as to be readily understood and related to by kids of a young age (I'd estimate anywhere from 6 years of age on up). It tells the story of a typical white family with one son and one daughter visiting the park. The kids have heard about the assorted wildlife attractions and the son is actually frightened of the grizzly bear. Within that context, their parents alleviate some of the fear by showing that you can "see" animals without actually having to encounter them first-hand. Select pages are complemented by box text identified as "The Straight Poop," and they relate the scat and tracks to larger wildlife issues within the park unit (e.g., the 1995 restoration of gray wolves to the ecosystem). At the very back of the book are two pages that succinctly sum up all the information learned and could make a nice family reference to stuff into a backpack as you head off into the back country or one of the shorter trails near any of the major nodes within the park.
To be sure, the story focuses on Yellowstone. It gives information, however, that can be taken well beyond the realm of the Yellowstone context. In my estimation, the book's greatest strength is in showing kids--and the adults who hang with them--how to begin to more thoughtfully see animals in the world around them. It will pique peoples' curiousity and, hopefully, their respect for our pawed and hooved co-residents. The book is truly a "keeper"--hence the five stars.
August 21, 2009
This novel has it all: well-rounded characters, compelling plot, complex themes...oh, who am I kidding, it's a book about poop, but that's what makes it fabulous!
classic lines that will reverberate throughout history:
" 'Right! Bunny poop looks like little round ball,' added Dad. 'Deer scat is shaped more like jellybeans.' "
"Instead of a close encounter of the scary kind, we'll have a close encounter of the poopy kind."
"Look at the size of this poop!"
" 'Let's look for mountain lion poop,' said Michael."
"Fresh bison poop is squishy."
classic lines that will reverberate throughout history:
" 'Right! Bunny poop looks like little round ball,' added Dad. 'Deer scat is shaped more like jellybeans.' "
"Instead of a close encounter of the scary kind, we'll have a close encounter of the poopy kind."
"Look at the size of this poop!"
" 'Let's look for mountain lion poop,' said Michael."
"Fresh bison poop is squishy."
April 28, 2011
We are going to go to Yellowstone in July, and I wanted to get some quick information on identifying park animals by foot/hoof/claw prints and scat. This was the perfect book. It's brief and written for kids. Both the mother and father are equally informed about animal characteristics, and the story line was breezy and fun to read. Most pages had extra factoids, and the end of the book had a great summary of all the animals mentioned. Apparently there are Who Pooped in the Park books for almost a dozen national parks. I'll keep that in mind when we plan to visit another park.
April 8, 2015
This book was a quick and easy way to get basic information on the kinds of wildlife present at Yellowstone National Park. Most of the pages included extra fun facts about the park for readers to enjoy. Never having been to Yellowstone, I read every one. I can definitely say that I have learned some new things.
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April 13, 2015This book would be a hit with several younger students and even I was intrigued by the title. This book is a great representation on how to use visual clues in the forest to determine what animals have crossed the same path that you now are taking. I have never been one for this type of nature but with a fun guide as represented in the book I think this would be a fun activity.
March 17, 2009
My toddling son loves this book. Great read, either at home or out in the wild. Lovely illustrations. I hear the author runs a cool bookshop a ways outside the park's northeast entrance, in Red Lodge, MT, too.
April 25, 2015
This book would be wonderful for many young children, especially boys. The title is unique and will definitely catch the eye of many. The book represents visual clues and how to use them in predicting what may happen next in a book.
January 31, 2008
This is a bestseller at our ranch, along with Death in Yellowstone. Our guests must have really good taste.
February 26, 2008
Funniest book ever! I have an autographed copy. I bought it for all my family members, but oddly, they didn't like it as much as I did. I wonder why.
April 5, 2008
I sent this book to my nieces and my little cousin...they all love this book!!!! As for my sister and aunt...i'm not sure if its thier favorite!!!
April 7, 2008
My daughter loves this book!
July 12, 2008
Like the best book ever! I loved it now and always will!
January 19, 2009
We loved this book! Very fun and educational for kids.
September 6, 2012
My kids really love this book and ever since we have been reading it they are interested in identifying animal scat and animal tracks. Cute book.
April 16, 2015
great -- an interesting read and we learned a lot.
July 31, 2016
Great!!!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews