Non-Fiction Picure Book: Poo Pile on the Prairie

 

Poo Pile on the Prairie

A Tiny Habitats Book 

by Amy Hevron

Illustrations by the author

Beach Lane Books

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2025

48 pages

ISBN: 9781665935029

Rave reviews: 

*This incredibly amusing addition to the Tiny Habitats series is a treasure. . . . A spectacular snapshot of a truly special—if slightly smelly—small world.
– Booklist, STARRED REVIEW, 02/01/2025
* An interesting and beautiful story about this important prairie ecosystem contributor. Highly recommended.
– School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW, 2/1/25
* Hevron blends whimsy and science for an enchanting and much-needed reminder that complex ecosystems can be found in the most unlikely of places.
– Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW, 12/15/24

My Review: 

Poop on the prairie sounds nasty and smelly, but Amy Hevron enlightens readers showing them that a pile of bison poop is really an ecosystem for all kinds of creatures. When a bison poops, dung beetles and worms make it their home and soon flies lay thousands of eggs that in turn feed birds and turtles.The poo pile enriches the soil and soon prairie wildflowers grow. 

The flowers entice bees, crickets and birds. In the spring butterflies emerge. In the winter, snow covers the pile, soaking it into the grasses which will feed the bison and the cycle will begin again. 

A double page spread follows the story with illustrations of the animals found on the prairie who benefit from that pile of bison poop. In "The Scoop on Bison Poop," readers learn that over three hundred different types of insects call a single poop pile their home. Because bison poop is so rich in microbes and nutrients, it makes the soil rich. Seeds are also found in bison poop. When bison graze they spread these seeds over the prairie and the flowers that sprout attract butterflies and bees. One single pile of poop is responsible for sustaining the prairie ecosystem. 

Additional reading and selected sources are listed for those who want to learn more about poo on the prairie. Illustrations use mixed media of pencil, markers and acrylics. 

Highly recommended ages 4 and up.