Poo, a natural history of the unmentionable

'Poo' is a narrative non fiction book for children aged 8-12. Picture books have often used the appeal of toilet humour, but 'Poo' is the first book to use children's fascination with faeces to convey scientific information from a variety of biological disciplines. Unlike most popular science books for children, 'Poo' does not present information as a series of unrelated factual statements. 'Poo' is a coherent essay, in the J.B.S Haldane and Stephen Jay Gould tradition, but offers an innovative contribution to the public understanding of science by using this form for younger readers. Davies drew on her zoological research experience to write Poo, using academic texts, research papers and personal communications from biologists working in relevant fields. Davies was involved in the creation the unique visual style of 'Poo' that conveys information with humour and has made the book, as an object, into a style icon: 'Poo' lined the windows of Tate Modern's bookshop for months after publication. 'Poo' has been translated into nine languages, published in 12 countries, won a major literary prize in Italy, been shortlisted for awards in the UK and Germany and has been the subject of public exhibitions in Britain and Italy.