Have you ever really thought about poo?
Why is it that wild animal poo can be wonderful for the planet but human poo has become such a problem?
That’s the question at the heart of How Do You Poo?, a new children’s book I’m co-authoring with the brilliant Elsa Kent — an inspiring young educator and regenerative farming advocate already known as “The Osprey Girl” for her pioneering conservation work.
The story is told through the eyes of our cockapoo, Ziggy: “I’m a cockapoo thinking about poo!”
Ziggy sets off on a global poo tour, interviewing wild animals about their droppings and discovering extraordinary stories: poo that spreads seeds and grows forests; poo that feeds insects and nourishes soil; poo that marks territory and keeps ecosystems balanced; and even poo that helps tackle climate change.
But Ziggy also uncovers the darker side of poo: human waste pouring into rivers and seas; mountains of farmed animal poo overwhelming the land; species lost, leaving humans to manufacture fertiliser substitutes; and ludicrously, dog poo in plastic bags hanging from trees…
By the end, Ziggy has become a campaigning dog on a poo mission discovering how humans need to clean up their act.
As Elsa puts it: “When Julia suggested we collaborate on bringing this children’s poo book to life… I jumped at the chance. We’re only at the beginning of this project, but we’re thrilled that it has already been shortlisted for the inaugural Sustainable Story Award!”
Poo may make you laugh, but it’s no joke. What we do about poo really matters.
And this is just the beginning. Elsa and I are planning poo tours, poo talks, even poo animations. How Do You Poo? may be written as a children’s book – warm, funny and inquisitive – but it’s also designed to spark conversations between adults. In fact, we think it could make an excellent loo-side read as well as a bedtime one.
The wider Good Poo, Bad Poo campaign will go even further — exploring issues from sewage to septic tanks, from cow pats to cruise ships, from slurry pits to biogas. Because when it comes to poo, what we do really matters.
The winners of the Sustainable Story Awards will be announced on 10th September 2025. Whatever the outcome, it’s an honour to be shortlisted among 13 inspiring authors.
