FeedUn-Forgettable Friday: The Butt Book by Artie Bennett; Illustrations by Mike Lester
October 1, 2010 in Bennett Artie, Elementary Educators, Making Personal Connections, Personal Connections, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Rhyming Words, Shared Writing, six traits of writing, Un-Forgettable Friday Tags: Artie Bennett, Book Giveaway Contest, books for boys, funny picture books, Mike Lester
I was very excited when Artie Bennett contacted me about his hysterical picture book, The Butt Book, and we decided to do a giveaway. Then right after this, I saw a mom and her daughter returning this book at our local library, and I thought. . .This book is setting the world on fire! So, read on to learn about The Butt Book, and don’t forget to leave a comment on this post by Monday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m. for a chance to win your very own hard-cover copy! (You must have a U.S. or Canada mailing address!)
*Picture book, nonfiction, rhyme for preschoolers through second graders
*The butt (the body part!) is the topic.
*Rating: Artie Bennett’s clever rhyme and Mike Lester’s hilarious illustrations will have children and adults laughing and reading this book again and again. Let The Butt Book start or bring back a love of reading in your child or students.
Short, short summary: Here’s how this book starts: Eyes and ears are much respected./But the butt has been neglected./We hope to change that here and now./Would the butt please take a bow?/ From this introduction, children will learn different names for butts and how they come in various sizes. They will learn about animal butts–an eagle’s flies up high, you know–and about what we can do with butts. Can you imagine trying to sit without your built-in chair? Don’t miss this super fun picture book about butts by Artie Bennett, who has also written 101 Ways to Say Vomit. (I imagine boys are big fans of both these books, but don’t leave out girls. They love to be silly, too!)
So, what do I do with this book?
1. Have fun! If you are reading this in a preschool/elementary class, laugh along with your students. They will definitely get the giggles just hearing their teacher say, “Butt!” At home, read the book with your child, and look at how the illustrations and the text work together to inform the reader about butts. This is a book meant to be read over and over again by kids and by adults to kids.
2. Write a sequel about another body part as a class or at home. For example, you could write THE EYE BOOK or THE HAIR BOOK or even THE KNEE BOOK. Your class can make it rhyme or just brainstorm different facts and statements to put in the book. Once you get your text figured out during shared writing time, assign students different parts of the book to illustrate. Laminate the pages when they finish, and bind them together.
3. Are you teaching the six plus one traits of writing to your students or child (at home school)? This is the perfect book to teach the trait of word choice. Bennett’s language is specific and right on target for the tone and audience. He also uses a lot of synonyms for the word, “butt.”
Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post–(or a question for the author) for a chance to win The Butt Book! Oh, I almost forgot–it’s autographed by Artie Bennett, too.
October 1st, 2010 at 8:18 am
I can already hear my kids laughing if I read them this book. They think the word ‘butt’ is the funniest word in the dictionary. Thanks for highlighting this book Margo! Would have never found out about it unless you did!
October 1st, 2010 at 8:28 am
A young high school girl is doing a project on children’s books–writing and publishing….I would love to start her off with this book…it’s exactly the kind that engages, tickles and enthralls young kids, especially boys! I’ll be back with you later, Margo, to perhaps have her contact you and pick your brain!
October 1st, 2010 at 8:45 am
It sounds like a fun book and I always like to read books in rhyme. So glad to know about this book.
June Sengpiehl
October 1st, 2010 at 9:33 am
Sorry I missed the Mockingjay post, Margo. LOVE that series!
This looks really funny! My kids might be too old but I bet they would still have a few laughs. I know a mom with a preschooler who would really enjoy this book!
October 1st, 2010 at 10:17 am
From Joyce L:
How can anyone not want the butt book? Please enter me in this contest.
jlansky(at)comcast.net
October 1st, 2010 at 10:21 am
Question for the author: Just curious. Did your publisher give you any greif about the title of your book? I was going to call my children’s book about guide dogs “Long Time No Pee” (Seeing Eye dogs are only allowed to relieve themselves when their blind companion takes the harness off and says it’s okay) but my publisher said books with “bad words” in the title don’t get into school libraries.
The book is called “Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound” instead.
I may have missed my only opportunity to become the author of a “banned book.” Dang!
October 1st, 2010 at 11:10 am
I can’t wait to get this book for my little grandson, Jackson. If I don’t win it, I’ll surely buy it. He and I will laugh our way through. Then I’ll see if his teacher will let me be a guest reader in his kindergarten class! Thanks for the great suggestion, Margo!
October 1st, 2010 at 11:19 am
Hi Margo,
What a cute book. I can’t wait to read it. I would love to win it. We’ll see what happens, I guess.
Irene
October 1st, 2010 at 11:29 am
How did I not know about this book? My son’s having a sleepover on the Columbus Day break from school and we would love to have this! Margo, can’t you just send me a list of the coolest books ever for boys? Speaking of cool books have you checked out the How to Train Your Dragon series? I had to read them out loud to my son but he loved them.
October 1st, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I really, really want this book! Pick me, pick me!!!
As always, love your blog, Margo!
October 1st, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Howdy, Margo. Boy, it’s so heartening to see such enthusiasm for my book! It really does an old author’s heart good. Thank you, everyone, for the gracious words!
In answer to Beth Finke’s great question: No, Bloomsbury didn’t raise a stink at all over the title. I kinda felt it was the perfect title–succinct and to the point. And I was prepared to fight for the title, but I didn’t have to a lick. The title, however, could be the reason why I’ve not yet been invited to appear in schools, despite sending out numerous feelers. I love your almost title, Beth. By the way, I was joking with a bookseller at an appearance last week about trying to get my book banned. This would surely bring gobs of attention. I’m hard at work on it.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:36 pm
No doubt, Artie. I just posted about banning books on Monday and how the opposite of what the banners want to happen actually happens. Everybody wants to read the banned books!
Thanks for posting and allowing us to review your book. 
October 1st, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Thanks for sharing this book, I think Shelby’s kindergarten class would have a blast reading this at there story time. Kids are always wanting to talk about stuff like that , they know they will get in trouble if they talked about a “butt” any other way, how clever.
October 1st, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Jodi,
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve seen the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON series, but haven’t read any. I’ll have to check them out.
Margo
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I can see my grandson and his friends just laughing their heads off if I read this book to them. I would love to be entered to win a copy of The Butt Book. In fact, I will have to read it first .
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:07 pm
My daughter is at the perfect age (4) to giggle at this book. I picture us reading it to her during her storytime and having a blast!
October 4th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Thanks for info on this book. My 4 y.o. godson is having surgery on Friday and I found this to put in his hospital box of goodies from me. I know he’ll love it.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I am an elementary school librarian and noticed this book in the office of our library director! “Must be a really good book if the Director has it on her bookshelf for display!” When I asked permission to look at it, she responded with how much neat she thought it was and how much kids would enjoy it! The kids at my school would fall over laughing if I had a copy to read aloud to classes in the library. This would surely boost my “cool” librarian points!
Please send it to me!
October 5th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Thank you to everyone for participating in this contest and for leaving your comments!
I hope you will tell your friends and family about this humorous book. The winner is. . .Christine W. 
Christine, I’ll be contacting you to get your snail mail address.
Margo