Book 8

The Bat

by Elise Gravel

Published 4 February 2020
Hilarious illustrated non-fiction about bats perfect for beginning readers. Conversational text and silly illustrations will have you up all night reading about the only flying mammal on Earth!

Fast bat facts:
  • Distinctive trait: The only flying mammal
  • Diet: Insects, fruit and even animal blood
  • Special talent: Sleeping upside down

  • The Bat covers habitat (bats live everywhere except Antarctica!), species (there are over 1,200 kinds of bats), echolocation, hibernation (bats hibernate just like bears!), conservation (don't disturb a sleeping bat!) and much more. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Bat contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    Book 9

    The Cockroach

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 4 February 2020
    Hilarious illustrated non-fiction about cockroaches perfect for beginning readers. You'll bug out over this perfect pairing of humorous text and funny illustrations about this insect that's been around for over 335 million years!

    Fast cockroach facts:
  • Distinctive trait: Flat and oval-shaped body
  • Diet: Everything! (Especially if it's greasy and sweet . . .)
  • Special talent: Running

  • The Cockroach covers lifestyle (cockroaches prefer the dark and only come out during the day when their colonies get big enough), anatomy (cockroaches have wings but rarely fly), habitat (they prefer heat to cold), life cycle (a female can give birth to up to 350 babies during her lifetime) and much more. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Cockroach contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    The Toad

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 5 July 2016
    She's good for the environment... and she's disgusting!

    Distinctive trait: Warts
    Food preference: Bugs and worms
    Special talent: Eating her own skin

    Disgusting? Yes, but fun, too!

    The Toad is the next installment of the Disgusting Critter series. Hilarious illustrated non-fiction about toads perfect for beginning readers. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Toad contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    The Spider

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 10 February 2015
    Part of a series of hilarious nonfiction about disgusting creatures, this book looks at the spider. It covers such topics as the spider's habitats (pretty much everywhere but outer space), the silk it spins (it can trap prey and makes a nifty bowtie), and its parenting practice (female spiders carry around their eggs in a silk purse). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Spider contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    Head Lice

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 10 February 2015
    Part of a series of hilarious non-fiction books about disgusting creatures, this book examines head lice. It covers such topics as head lice habitats (human heads only, dogs are gross), anatomy (his body is slightly see through, so he can always see what he ate for lunch), and parenting practice (the female louse sticks eggs to human hair and uses the leftover glue for her model airplanes). Although silly and off-the-wall, Head Lice contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    The Worm

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 11 March 2014
    The second in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Worm is a look at the earthworm. It covers such topics as the worm's habitats (sometimes they live inside other animals), its anatomy (its muscle tube is slimy and gross), and its illustrious history (worms have been on Earth for 120 million years). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Worm contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    The Fly

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 11 March 2014
    The first in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Fly is a look at the common housefly. It covers such topics as the hair on the fly's body (requires a lot of shaving), its ability to walk on the ceiling (it's pretty cool, but it's hard to play soccer up there), and its really disgusting food tastes (garbage juice soup followed by dirty diaper with rotten tomato sauce, for example). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Fly contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    The Mosquito

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 14 July 2020
    Hilarious illustrated nonfiction about mosquitos perfect for beginning readers. Conversational text and silly illustrations will have you up all night reading about the most annoying bug on Earth!

    Fast mosquito facts:
  • Distinctive trait: Leaving annoying itchy bites
  • Diet: Your blood (and nectar and plant juice)
  • Special talent: Making a terrible whining sound in your ear

  • The Mosquito covers habitat (mosquitos live everywhere except Antarctica and Iceland!), species (over 3,500!), history (the oldest recorded mosquito was 79 million years ago!) and much more. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Mosquito contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    The Slug

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 5 August 2014
    One in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Slug is a look at the land slug. It covers such topics as the slug's two pairs of tentacles, one pair for seeing, one pair for smelling (it can see you're a kid and smell like broccoli), its breathing hole (on the side of its head!), and its pretty gross mucous covering (in order to find a partner, the slug can follow another slug's mucous trail. True love!). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Slug contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    The Rat

    by Elise Gravel

    Published 5 August 2014
    One in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Rat is a look at the black rat. It covers such topics as the rat's long, agile tail (it's good for balancing and picking noses), long teeth (they can chew through anything, including books) and disgusting taste in food (delicious electrical wires in tomato sauce, anyone?). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Rat contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

    These critters are disgusting — and fun, too! — and now they're brought together for the first time in a new collection! Learn about flies, spiders and worms in this hilarious illustrated nonfiction, perfect for beginning readers.

    Flies can walk on the ceiling. Worms have existed for 120 million years. And spiders have four pairs of eyes. What do they have in common? They're all disgusting!

    Elise Gravel's Disgusting Critters series has charmed and grossed out thousands of readers. This paperback bind-up of three of nature's most beloved, and yuckiest, creatures — the fly, the worm and the spider — is filled with fascinating facts and hilarious humor that will amuse and teach at the same time.