2023
WISE Score
Amazon
A lizard's quest for justice after a jungle 'splat' turns into a giggly lesson on why we shouldn't assume the worst.
4.5
4.5View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
Look, it’s a book about a lizard getting pooped on. It’s not winning any Pulitzer Prizes, but it’s a guaranteed hit for a preschooler’s bedtime.
It’s safe, it’s funny, and it actually tries to bake in a little message about empathy and logic instead of just being gross for the sake of it. If you can handle reading the word 'splat' with enthusiasm, your kid will love it.
Perfect for the 3-to-6 crowd who think the word 'poop' is the height of comedy. Older kids (8+) will likely find the mystery too simple and the tone a bit too 'babyish.'
It turns a gross-out moment into a lighthearted mystery about empathy and not jumping to conclusions. The lizard doesn't go on a revenge rampage; he just wants to know what's up.
The 'mystery quest for the pooper' is a well-worn trope in children's lit, but the jungle setting and colorful lizard perspective keep it fresh enough for the target demographic.
It's a picture book about animal droppings. Unless your family has a strictly 'no-poop-talk' policy, there is zero risk here. No violence, no scary bits, just nature doing its thing.
Beyond the giggles, it offers a basic lesson on evidence and assumptions. It’s more about entertainment than deep education, but it gets kids engaged with the narrative.
Let’s be honest: the title is pure toddler clickbait. David Cunliffe and Ivan Barrera knew exactly what they were doing when they put a "SPLAT!" on the cover of a book about a lizard. If you’re a parent who prefers Goodnight Moon or quiet, lyrical prose about the changing seasons, this book will feel like a loud neon sign in a library. But for a three-year-old who thinks the word "poop" is the funniest thing ever uttered in human history, this is gold.
We often talk about "high-interest" books for older kids who struggle to read, but the same logic applies to preschoolers. If a kid is wiggly during storytime, you don't give them more poetry; you give them a mystery involving a projectile bowel movement. It works because it’s the one topic they know is slightly "naughty," which makes them lean in.
The plot follows a lazy lizard whose afternoon nap is interrupted by an unwelcome surprise. From there, it’s a classic procedural. The lizard goes from animal to animal, accusing them of the crime, only to be proven wrong. It’s a simple loop, but it’s effective because it introduces the concept of evidence to kids who are usually still struggling to remember where they left their shoes.
The "mischievous twist" at the end is what saves it from being just another gross-out book. Without spoiling the ending, the lizard learns that his assumptions were totally off-base. It’s a low-pressure way to talk about not jumping to conclusions or blaming your siblings the second something goes wrong in the playroom.
If you’ve spent any time in the children’s section of a bookstore, you’ve probably seen The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Who Did It on His Head. That book is the undisputed heavyweight champion of this very specific sub-genre.
Who Pooped on Me? is the modern, more digitally-polished cousin to that classic. While the Little Mole book has a more European, traditional art style, Ivan Barrera’s illustrations here are bright, high-contrast, and look great on a tablet screen if you’re reading the Kindle version. The jungle setting allows for a more vibrant color palette that keeps younger toddlers engaged even if they aren't following every word of the dialogue.
This is not a "quietly whisper while they drift off to sleep" book. To make this work, you have to lean into the performance.
It’s a five-minute read that feels like a headline comedy set to a preschooler. If you’re looking for a gift for a kid in that 3-to-6 age range—especially one who is currently obsessed with potty training or "bathroom words"—this is a guaranteed hit. Just don't expect it to be the last time you have to read it. You’ll be reciting the lizard’s quest from memory by the end of the week.
Get a personalized guide on any topic
