Make Them Say Poo

Make Them Say Poo by Stephen, illustrated by Rudi de Wet (Affirm Press 2026) HB RRP $ 22.99 IBSN 9781923293724

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes.

Dear trusting adult,

You can safely read this very nice book aloud to your child.

There are absolutely no rude words on any page. I promise.*

Your Worthy Wordsmith, Stephen.

*Note to kids:

Any POOr adult who reads this aloud will definitely say POO. I promise.

Your Grand POObah, Stephen.

Two thoughts occurred to me upon reading the blurb for this book - how clever and hilarious it was, and how can a book make me say POO?  Well, be prepared, folks!

The main purpose of this picture book is to empower and entertain young children. 

Kids will love the 'secret' joke hidden in this text - and will absolutely love hearing you - their parents, teachers, older siblings, grandparents - being tricked into saying the word POO! 

Stephen's cheekily playful rhyming text rolls effortlessly along - all sweetly, brightly and innocent-like.  Then, after the (unintentional) utterance of the word - POO - the text has the 'flustered' reader hurriedly apologising for their blunder. 

Oh, pardon me! MY MISTAKE!

I think my tongue unscrewed.

I feel that just by reading this,

I've said a word that's rude.

Meanwhile - between big laughs - kids will be waiting with bated breath for the next (inevitable) POO word to leap out and get you! And it's all completely civil - Stephen keeps his promise - there's not a single rude word to be found.

Rudi de Wet's illustrations work deliciously with Stephen's mischievous text and play so appealingly into the mind of a child: the simple, clean lines of all the cut graphic shapes, the just-right, non-primary colours, the movement and energy, and the fanciful fun - all speak visually together in a language so wondrously connected to childhood. 

Every element on every page is proportionately pleasing - and perfectly placed.  I love the iconic rubber duck in the bath scene, and the lighthouse with the boat on a stormy sea. I also love all the tiny details the illustrations contain  - like the animated little faces on almost everything - including clouds, flowers, and toilet rolls. And his hand-drawn typography is second to none - check out the embossed POO word on the cover!

Make Them Say Poo is not just another gross-out, toilet-humour type book. With its clever wordplay and cheeky twists, kids won't even realise that they're practising early literacy skills. And they'll have no idea that the repetition, rhyme, and sound-based humour they're enjoying is upping their phonemic awareness and decoding skills - making it ideal for early readers and language learners.

This is laugh-out-loud learning at its best!

Perfect for story-time sessions at home, for bedtime, and for classroom read-alouds, this 'naughty' but utterly clever book guarantees on-repeat readings, and giggles galore for kids and their brave adult readers!   

(After reading this to an adult friend of mine and mentioning that it's a book intended mostly for preschoolers, he said, 'Why stop there?')

Suitable for children aged 2-7 years (and older if the word poo still makes you laugh!)