Honolulu Lite
This could be a first for a columnist writing for a family newspaper. I want to tell you about one of the most popular kids' books that you've never heard of. But the subject matter is so gross, it might not be proper for a general circulation daily paper. Better hold your nose
for this oneHow did we get to the point that a book written for children ages 9 to 12 years old cannot even be discussed in polite company? I don't know. But I'm really jealous. I try to write about gross things all the time, but as soon as I slip the word "booger" or "arm pit" in a column, the editors start hyperventilating.
The book is called "Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things." They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but trust me, you can with this one. (I won't go into detail about what is on the cover, except to say it is not a photo of a spilled bowl of Campbell's Chunky Split Pea Soup. But it's close.)
The book is a graphic scientific exploration of the body's most disgusting functions. Any substance that the human body emits, expels, leaks, exudes, releases, dispenses, ejects, extrudes, disgorges or spews is subject to discussion and consideration in this book.
A recent reviewer wrote: "The book dives face first into vats of everything you're not supposed to talk about ... (It's) tasteless, disgusting and bound to offend many people. And, quite honestly, everything it discusses is happening in and on your body right now. "
Kids apparently love the book's brutal honesty. Grossology is becoming a growing movement, so to speak.
The book's author Sylvia Branzei, a California science teacher, also has published "Animal Grossology: The Science of Creatures Gross and Disgusting," "Hands-on Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Experiments" and "Virtual Grossology: See it! Touch it! Hear it! Smell it! Taste it!"
Bishop Museum directors, who are always looking for snappy "hands-on" exhibits, will be happy to know that there's a Grossology traveling science exhibit that allows little explorers to sniff disgusting body odors from plastic containers, pump up a "burp machine" and release a loud belch and slide through a model gastrointestinal tract and be ejected onto a "poo poo mat."
The exhibit currently is at a Chicago museum but will visit other parts of the country.
Branzei recently was quoted as saying, "Kids like the taboo of the whole thing. And our culture finds any body excretion to be taboo."
There's a reason why public discussion of certain subjects is taboo. It allows us to live in a generally disgusting world with a certain amount of dignity. I guess kids should know how the body works. I'm not sure they need to slide through a plastic colon to learn it.
Hey! This was a first! The first time I've ever felt like taking a really long, hot shower after writing a column.
Alo-Ha! Friday compiles odd bits of news from Hawaii
and the world to get your weekend off to an entertaining start.
Charles Memminger also writes Honolulu Lite Mondays,
Wednesdays and Sundays. Send ideas to him at the
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210,
Honolulu 96813, phone 235-6490 or e-mail cmemminger@starbulletin.com.
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