Poop: A (Very) Natural History & a Powerful Future -- Ben Hoare, Hardcover

All too often, we regard poop as simply disgusting OR as an endless source of humor. But poop is a necessary part of a healthy body and the wider cycle of life, and it is vital to the functioning of nature on our planet. In Poop: A (Very) Natural History and a Powerful Future, discover the science of poop, how our bodies produce it and where it goes - as well as the many vital and astonishing uses for poop to help protect our environment, to generate our energy and even to use in our medical treatments. In this book, you will also discover the different ways that animals, from ants to whales, use poo for feeding, defence, camouflage, communication, or nest-making.

Intriguing and snigger-free, this highly digestible title is written with charm, wit, and sophistication. It seeks to bust plenty of myths while providing exciting insights into how poop can be part of our bright future with breakthroughs in everything from human health and sustainable lifestyles to energy generation and space travel.

Author: Ben Hoare
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Published: 08/26/2025
Pages: 80
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.76h x 12.01w x 0.20d
ISBN: 9780711294493
Audience: Ages 9-12

About the Author

Ben Hoare is a self-confessed lifelong 'nature nerd' based in Somerset, UK. For 10 years he was Features Editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine, since then he has become an award-winning children's non-fiction author, while continuing his journalism for BBC Wildlife and magazines such as BBC Countryfile, Science+Nature, and Science Focus. His children's books include several international bestsellers sold in over 20 territories around the world.

www.benhoare.com

Jennifer R Smith is an award-winning illustrator and author based in Bristol, UK. Her first children's book, GLOW, was published by Thames and Hudson in 2023 and has been translated into 9 languages. ​Originally fascinated by its many interdisciplinary uses, Jennifer studied Drawing at Camberwell, UAL, and went on to become a qualified scientific illustrator, using her creative and technical training in tandem.

In 2020, Jennifer completed her training in Medical Illustration with the Medical Artists' Education Trust and became a fully certified member of the Medical Artist's Association. WonderTheory Studio was launched shortly after, to deliver an approach to informative illustration that resonated with her own experiences of learning and engagement.​

She was recently a silver award winner in the 2023 Junior Design Awards, a distinguished merit winner in the 3x3 annual illustration show, and was shortlisted in the World Illustration Awards, V&A Awards, and Communication Arts Awards.