• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

Winner of the Award of Merit from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

This intriguing collection of questions and answers about our lakes and freshwater systems will fascinate, amaze and inform young readers and anyone who is curious about this world of water. The book answers questions submitted by youngsters curious about water and life in a watershed.

This book reveals the common ecology of freshwater lakes. Loaded with illustrations and photographs, the authors tackle the science, plants, fish and animals, and geography. The book also answers questions about what it will take to keep our rivers and lakes clean.

Here are some examples of the questions in Do Fish Fart?:

• What's the difference between a lake and a pond? What's on the bottom of a lake? Why is a lake blue but the water is clear in a glass when we drink it? What is the green gooey squishy stuff on the top of some lakes? Would we die we drank the messy green water?
• Can fish drown? Why do fish smell? How can fish survive in the winter? How do fish have babies? How smart are fish? Do fish drink water? Do fish urinate?
• Where does the oil and gas from a motorboat go? If soap is poured into a lake, will it become a bubble bath? How long does it take for a lake to get polluted?
• Are there any spiders in a lake? Why are zebra mussels called that? Do frogs and fish freeze in the water in the winter time?

Children have the uncanny ability to pose questions that stump adults. Do Fish Fart? answers those questions in a fun and engaging format.

KELTIE THOMAS is a passionate sports fan and award-winning children’s science writer and editor. She is a former editor of OWL Magazine, and is the author of popular sports books such as How Baseball Works; Blades, Boards & Scooters; and Inside Hockey! She lives in Toronto.

Keltie Thomas' profile page

Deryk Ouseley's profile page

The book includes questions about lakes, water, lake bottoms, fish, excrement, pollution. plants, animals, and the future. the formatting is fun and very eye-catching.

Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's and Young Adult Literature

(starred review) This collection of questions and answers about our lakes and freshwater systems is sure to fascinate and inform readers of all ages. Loaded with illustrations and photographs, this book answers questions submitted by kids about freshwater lakes and watersheds. The author tackles ecology, urban planning, fish and animals, and geography. The book also answers questions about what it will take to keep our rivers and lakes clean.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens 2016

Informed and respectful.

Kirkus

The story of water holds a fascination for everyone and many questions arise around this subject. This text was generated from a series of questions that 2,100 elementary school students in the Lake Simcoe watershed area in Southern Ontario asked about their lake. With the help of experts, some fascinating and informative information regarding the Great Lakes in Southern Ontario is presented. Each two-page spread answers various questions on topics relating to our lakes; for example, formation of the Great Lakes, how fish got into the lakes, what is on the bottom of a lake, plants and animals surrounding the lakes, pollution, algae, and much more. This appealing text is colourfully illustrated with a variety of large photographs, drawings, diagrams and cartoon characters, adding humour and interest along with fact. Questions are answered in anecdotal style and the information is clearly presented for intermediate readers. As reference, this book should prove useful for science and ecology projects. The final pages discussing pollution and the future of our lakes provides fuel for interesting classroom discussion. An extensive index is included as well as a table of contents. This text should prove useful in an elementary school library or classroom collection.

Resource Links