Life & Family | Books

Why?

That’s a question you ask your parents at least ten times a day. Why can’t I go to my friend’s house? Why can’t I have cookies for dinner? It’s enough to make a kid crazy.

So did you ever wonder why boiling-hot lava melts rock but doesn’t melt volcanoes? Or why we don’t live on other planets? In the new book Why is Snot Green? by Glenn Murphy, you’ll find answers to the things you’ve been wondering about science, nature and your body.

Let’s start with something big, the biggest thing you can think of—the universe. How big is that? Well, let’s say you’re in a space car going 60 miles an hour and you want to drive to the Milky Way. Better pack a good lunch, because it would take you around a million billion years to get there.

While you’re taking your trip in the galaxy, be sure you don’t fart in your spacesuit. That’s because you can’t open or unzip your suit in space; doing so would boil your insides and freeze your skin solid.

Speaking of passing gas, did you know that almost all animals do it? Yep, even snakes make smellies.

And as for snot…? It’s “the result of a fight between nasty bugs and body cells that make green-colored goo.” Think about that next time you pick your nose.

Worried that your kids may get out of the learning habit during summer vacation? You won’t need to fret if you hand them this book.

Why is Snot Green? is a fun-to-read book that answers a lot of things kids have thought about and quite a few they haven’t—yet. What makes it such a delight is that author Glenn Murphy writes in a back-and-forth format that reads like regular conversation, including arguments, answers that lead to more questions and a more than just a few snickers. Best of all, if your child leaves this book lying around, you won’t feel silly if you read and enjoy it, too.

If your 8-to-13-year-old is complaining of boredom, missing school, or is looking for something to take on vacation this year, Why is Snot Green? is a good book to pick. And for under ten bucks, why not?