One of the best ways to gear kids up for school is to get them reading. It develops vocabulary, fosters creative thinking, and builds mental focus. Sometimes getting kids to read is easier said than done. If a child refuses to read, what's a desperate parent to do?
I'm a big believer in doing ANYTHING to keep kids reading. I'll attempt any unusual strategies to foster the reading habit. Recently, I discovered a new trick: Farts! I don't mean letting 'em rip. I mean using fart literature to get kids excited about reading. Farts are funny. Really funny, according to my son. He will gladly devour any book with themes of flatulence, and the stinkier, the better.
I was amazed at the selection of fart literature for kids. There's a variety to suit every taste and smell, and the writing doesn't stink. When it comes to getting kids back to books, a little fart can go a long way. As long as it stays between the covers of a book!
Here are my top 5 picks:
The Day My Butt Went Psycho. With a title like this, it shouldn't be shocking that this book comes with a lot of stinky humour. Almost every page contains the word "butt," or word plays on "butt," which is enough to send my 7-year-old son into hysterics. The plot is pretty hilarious too. A butt detaches itself from 12-year-old Zach's body, and runs around on stumpy little legs in a conspiracy with other wayward butts. Adults may not quite appreciate the humour (there is even a warning for adults on the inside cover,) but kids will find it hard to resist.
What's For Dinner, Mr. Gum? The Mr. Gum series are a huge hit with kids ages 6-10. Whacky characters in the town of Lamonic Bibber are not shy about their bodily functions. Things take a turn for the stinkier, as the evil Mr. Gum discovers his new favourite treat: Rancid kebabs dripping with dirty grey sauce. Chapters are short, and the humour is kind of silly, but not dumb. In fact, I enjoy reading this series with my kids. It's pretty funny.
Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts. For kids who want to learn about some of the science behind farts, the facts are described with a dose of humour.
The Inconceivable Adventures of Cabbage Boy When the evil Cabbage Roller wreaks havoc on 9-year-old Ralph's town, he reeks some superpower havoc of his own. How long can Ralph keep his superpowers a secret? Watch out world, things are going to get stinky. A great read for ages 8 and up.
Walter the Farting Dog. Younger kids (5-9) will enjoy this tale of a well-loved dog with a stinky problem. Well, at least the children in the story love him. Their father is not as tolerant of the flatulent canine, so it's off to the pound for Walter. Then, in a twist of events involving burglars, Walter's doomed fate is changed.
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