There Are 3 Kinds of Farts: Funny Flatulence Books for Kids
There's a joke in my family that starts "there are three kinds of farts". My Mom, who is living with dementia, finds this old chestnut very funny, mainly because it has very graphic sound effects, but also because it taps into a memory from her youth when she was growing up in Macedonia. One good thing about living with dementia is that my humor, which is of the dad quality and variety, always seem fresh to her.
But Mom is not the only person who finds farts funny, so do kids! So in honor of my Mom, and to appeal to kids everywhere, here's a selection of fart books for your delight. A little known, but deeply interesting, fact – there's actually a subject heading that brings many of these books together Flatulence–Juvenile fiction.
Factual Books
Does It Fart?: A Kid's Guide to the Gas Animals Pass
"An illustrated guide to whether or not various animals pass gas, infused with humor and scientific facts."
Does It Fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence
"Clearly, the public demands more information on animal farts. Does it Fart? fills that void: a fully authoritative, fully illustrated guide to animal flatulence, covering the habits of 80 animals in more detail than you ever knew you needed. What do hyena farts smell especially bad? What is a fossa, and does it fart? Why do clams vomit but not fart? And what is a fart, really? Pairing hilarious illustrations with surprisingly detailed scientific explanations, Does it Fart? will allow you to shift the blame onto all kinds of unlikely animals for years to come". If you like this one then you may also enjoy Who Cut the Cheese?: A Cultural History of the Fart.
Picture Books and Fiction:
"The monkey is gathering all the jungle animals for a farting contest. The hippo, the elephant, a shy giraffe, and a very refined zebra are all competing, but no one can guess who the winner will be."
"Fart is excited! He's desperate to make friends and have fun. But no one likes a fart. Not even a fart with a heart. Too smelly. Too embarrassing. Too gross."
Toot (ebook only)
"A baby is delighted to experience his very first fart." This author has many other similar ones too, although not on farts! These are board book level.
And while it's not exactly on topic, this classic older children's title by Japanese author TarÅ Gomi, is a favorite of my co-worker Christine and she's an excellent children's librarian so I'm including it here, just because!
"The beloved, bestselling potty-training classic, now in hardcover for a new generation! An elephant makes a big poop. A mouse makes a tiny poop. Everyone eats, so of course: everyone poops!"
The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts
"First published in Japan, the book begins with an elephant passing gas ("When an elephant farts, the farts are really big") and quickly moves on to people. Although there's factual information about swallowing air, the digestive process, and what causes gas to smell."
"When Carmen tries to tell her paren'ts that there is a big fart lying on her bed, they don't believe her. Good families like ours," they tell her, "do not have farts."
True story, our little doggo Rufus started to fart as he got older. Funny thing they were silent but deadly and he would just pretend they hadn't happened at all and never take responsibility for them. The first time Rufus farted, it kind of reminded me of my Dad (who died a few years ago) and brought a tear to my eye, both literally and figuratively.
"Walter the dog creates problems with his farts but becomes a hero when burglars enter the house." If you like this one there are several others in this series too.
"The Fart Squad is back, and this time the flatulent fifth graders will have to take on a prehistoric fart monster . . . FARTASAURUS REX!" If you like this one, it's actually part of series so there are plenty more featuring The Fart Squad.
"After their masters are vaporized in a goblin battle gone badly, Fart, Pan, and Moxie, three lowly apprentices, decide to impersonate their mentors and pick up the mantle as heroes of the realm. But they need more than a fancy robe, magic staff, and book of magical beasts to be real heroes. They need a quest! So when The Great and Powerful Kevin puts out a call for help, seeking the coveted Golden Llama and its magical golden fart, young Fart and his friends jump at the chance and embark on a journey they were destined for". There's actually a follow up book in this series called Barf the Bedazzler.
"New friends Nilly and Lisa help eccentric professor Doctor Proctor to develop his latest invention, a powder that makes one fart, making them very popular at school, but someone is planning to steal the industrial-strength formula for evil purposes." This is part of a series too, so if you like it, then don't miss the classic titles "Who Cut the Cheese" and "Bubble in the Bathtub"
So, do you have a fart joke or story to share?
If so please leave a comment below!
And, if you ever see me at the Library, please ask me to tell you the joke about the three kinds of farts, I'm sure my Mom is not the only person to find it really funny and it has sound effects which really put the cherry on top.
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