Hevron, Amy. Poo Pile on the Prairie. Amy Hevron, Illus. Tiny Habitats. Beach Lane, 02/2025. [44]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6659-3502-9. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.
The year in the life of a pile of bison poop is the topic of this engaging informational picture book, describing how the poo attracts insects that help to pollinate the prairies and how the plants that grow after the seeds are spread feed much of the wildlife. The text includes both a sentence or two on each spread, and humorous dialogue balloons indicating what the animals might be saying. The deeply colored marker and acrylic illustrations have a cartoonish quality while clearly depicting the inhabitants, making this a great resource to use to introduce younger children to the concept of an ecosystem. The book ends with an author’s note with more information on how poop is useful to the environment, and a list of further reading.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool