Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature

About this book

Forget pretty flowers — this collection of haiku celebrates the gross, slimy, and downright disgusting side of nature, from maggots to mucus, each paired with real science facts. Lynn Brunelle and illustrator Julia Patton make poetry and biology equally fun. Selected for the 2025-2026 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List (grades 3-6), chosen annually by the Texas Library Association.

Why widely assigned

This Nonfiction title, typically at grades 3–6. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on nature and poetry; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Texas Bluebonnet Award

  • recommended·3rd grade · Texassource: 2025-2026 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List (Texas Library Association)
  • recommended·4th grade · Texassource: 2025-2026 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List (Texas Library Association)
  • recommended·5th grade · Texassource: 2025-2026 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List (Texas Library Association)
  • recommended·6th grade · Texassource: 2025-2026 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List (Texas Library Association)

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Common questions

What grade level is Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature?

Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–6. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature?

It takes about 50 minutes to read Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature (44 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 50 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature?

Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature appears on reading lists for Texas Bluebonnet Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature banned in schools?

Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature explore?

Central themes in Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature include nature, poetry, science, humor. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.