Kate Klise Reviews

Added June 12, 2007

Regarding the Bathrooms

A Privy to the Past

Author: Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: August 2006
Genre: Middle Reader: Contemporary/Mainstream
Format: Hardcover
Price: $15.00
ISBN-10: 0-15-205164-8
ISBN-13: 9780152051648
Author Email/Website: www.kateandsarahklise.com
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Clever illustrations and snappy text will have the pages of this book turning faster than toilet paper on a roll! Humor, history and a whole lot of creativity make this novel a swirling success.

Principal Russ wants to renovate the school's basement bathrooms, so he hires Florence Waters, who happened to be vacationing in Bath, England. A series of puns, jokes and gags follow, adding layers of laughs to this terrific book. The illustrations are part of the plot and move the story along with a visual vitality. Sketches of newspaper articles, ads and personal memos provide the dialogue and interaction between the characters in a wonderfully innovative way.

A mystery, history and even some Latin are introduced to readers in a format that is fun and unforgettable. As the students dig around underground, they find more than just some bad-smelling bathrooms. Their adventure includes an archeological discovery, the apprehension of some crooks and a lesson in handling stress. Readers will appreciate the wit, while learning a few fascinating facts.

From Tad Poll to Hugh Dunnit, all of the characters have a unique flair, making their respective personalities as interesting as their names. Of course, bathroom humor overflows in this story, but the puns are a perfect fit. While the mystery engages the mind, the humor tickles the senses and keeps those pages turning. The imagination of the author and illustrator take this reading experience to a whole new level!

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