How Rude!: Animals That Burp, Toot, Spit, and Screech to Survive -- Chana Stiefel, Hardcover

A delightfully silly and informative picture book from the author of Animal Zombies & Other Real-Life Monsters.

Grown-ups expect kids to avoid all sorts of "rude" behaviors. But in nature, spits, burps, and toots can happen for surprisingly strategic reasons. When animals exhibit every gross habit--from toxic sneezes to deadly farts-- they're not aiming to act rude. They do what they can to survive.

This book features the most dazzlingly disgusting creatures on planet Earth--indecent insects, repulsive reptiles, cute-yet-crude mammals, and more. You'll also hear from scientists who are investigating what humans can learn from these bold behaviors. Prepare to be gobsmacked by good reasons for rudeness.


Author: Chana Stiefel
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Published: 11/11/2025
Pages: 96
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781454956440
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2025

About the Author
Chana Stiefel is the award-winning author of more than 30 books for children, including Animal Zombies & Other Real-Life Monsters and Bravo, Avocado. She grew up in South Florida, where she loved going on "swamp tromps" in the Everglades to search for snakes, lizards, frogs, gators, and gulping pelicans. Now she lives a spitting distance from New York City, where she enjoys sharing her passion for reading and writing with children. Learn more at chanastiefel.com.

Anna Louise Oliver is an artist who loves observing and drawing animals. She studied illustration at the University of Plymouth and lives in the UK. How Rude! is the first book she has illustrated.