Farting Made Him Famous

Fartiste, by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, is based on the life of a real man named Joseph Pujol. The cover refers to this story as "an explosively funny, mostly true story".

Young Joseph was an eight-year-old French boy when he first discovered his unusual talent. He learned that he could take air into his backside and then make a variety of hilarious sounds when he released it.

When Joseph was older, he was hired at the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris. The crowd went crazy when he got on the stage and started farting. He could sneeze, make animal sounds and blast off like dynamite. He could even perform Beethoven and Mozart! People laughed so hard that nurses were stationed in the aisles to assist people who passed out.

There is an Encore at the end of the book that gives additional biographical information about Joseph Pujol. There is also a list of Sources for students who want to search for more information about this unusual performer.

There are a few words in the book that will send most readers to a dictionary. I was stumped when I read the word "discombobulated".

This book will make history come alive and leave your children absolutely cracking up. They say that truth is stranger than fiction - this book is a great example.

If this book leaves you searching for more stories about flatulence, I highly recommend the Walter the Farting Dog books. Kids love them!