A Guide to Farts (Fart Book)

Product Information

The story is funny, but it's the illustrations that take this book into the realm of "must own". Walter is a good dog who just happens to have, hum, digestive difficulties. His children love him, but Mom, Dad, the Uncle, and the Vet decide that Walter has to go. Only a last minute triumph by a very flatulent Walter saves the day.

Have you ever heard a fart that could save the day? In this New York Times bestselling kids book, every toot tells a funny tale! Fart Proudly" (also called " A Letter to a Royal Academy about farting", and " To the Royal Academy of Farting") is the popular name of an essay about flatulence written by Benjamin Franklin c.1781 while he was living abroad as United States Ambassador to France. [1] [2] It is an example of flatulence humor. Billy and Betty think Walter is the perfect addition for their family. Unfortunately, his stank rump is causing their father to think differently. No matter what he tries, Walter just can’t stop farting. Special food? Farts. Holding them in? Farts. Anti-fart dog biscuits? Well, when you eat the whole bag it results in farts. If Walter doesn’t stop farting, he’s going to have to find a new house : (

This hilarious tale for children ages 4-8 (and adults who aren't afraid to laugh) features surreal illustrations by Audrey Colman and an absurdly comical storyline. Walter the Farting Dog is a timeless story about acceptance, love, and the incredible power of being oneself...farts and all. It is universally well known, that in digesting our common food, there is created or produced in the bowels of human creatures, a great quantity of wind," Franklin wrote in an essay variously known as "To the Royal Academy of Farting" or simply " Fart Proudly." "That the permitting this Air to escape and mix with the Atmosphere, is usually offensive to the Company, from the fetid Smell that accompanies it." The quote echoes Scaramucci’s characterization of Franklin’s message, but Franklin did not write those words. Japikse, the editor of the compilation of essays, wrote a short piece at the end of the book that describes a dream he had about Franklin. The quote appears in the book as something that Japikse imagined Franklin to have said. Franklin's reason for taking up the topic of farting? To urge the Royal Academy of Brussels, which had put out a call for scientific papers, to take up the goal of discovering "some Drug wholesome & not disagreable, to be mix’d with our common Food, or Sauces, that shall render the natural Discharges of Wind from our Bodies, not only inoffensive, but agreable as Perfumes." I have perused your late mathematical Prize Question, proposed in lieu of one in Natural Philosophy, for the ensuing year...Permit me then humbly to propose one of that sort for your consideration, and through you, if you approve it, for the serious Enquiry of learned Physicians, Chemists, &c. of this enlightened Age. It is universally well known, that in digesting our common food, there is created or produced in the bowels of human creatures, a great quantity of wind. That the permitting this air to escape and mix with the atmosphere, is usually offensive to the company, from the fetid smell that accompanies it. That all well-bred people therefore, to avoid giving such offence, forcibly restrain the efforts of nature to discharge that wind.

I could really find little redeeming value here. It's not that I mind a good gassy book - I can laugh and giggle over the tales of toots for ages. But, to me, the story-telling here just felt forced, and there didn't seem to be anything special in the writing. Plus, the illustrations kind of wigged me out. But Franklin did not give his essay that title or use the phrase in the essay. “ Fart Proudly” is a compilation of satirical essays from Franklin edited by Carl Japikse, though Franklin’s essay on farting is now also colloquially called “Fart Proudly.”

Meet Walter, a fine dog with flatulence. Despite his distinctive trait, he's loved by his siblings Billy and Betty. But Father has had enough! On the brink of being sent to the dog pound, Walter’s unexpected asset turns into his superpower when burglars break in. With a heroic toot, he saves the day and earns his place in the family’s heart.

The essay was never submitted but was sent as a letter to Richard Price, [1] a Welsh philosopher and Unitarian minister in England with whom Franklin had an ongoing correspondence. The text of the essay's introduction reads in part:And so it falls to young kitchen hand Frank to step into the breach (or should that be breeches?) as the royal butler, and it falls also to Frank to step up to save Fabian from unfortunate fart-triggered embarrassment. With crisply comic line drawings by graphic designer and illustrator Anita Mangan, this story of a king whose unexpected fart unexpectedly changes the world is sure-fire way for kids to entertain themselves. What’s more, it’s also excellent for reading aloud (the joys of being read to at an older age should never be underestimated), with a strident, knowing tone of voice that makes it easy - and satisfying - to inject further funniness and drama.