A 2022 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book A 2022 Cook Prize Silver Medalist Discover the true story about the determined engineer who fixed London's pollution problem in this funny, accessible nonfiction picture book featuring engaging art from the illustrator of Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine . It's the summer of 1858, and London's River Thames STINKS. What is creating this revolting smell? The answer is gross: the river is full of poop. But the smell isn't the worst problem. Every few years, cholera breaks out, and thousands of people die. Could there be a connection between the foul water and the deadly disease? One engineer dreams of making London a cleaner, healthier place. His name is Joseph Bazalgette. His grand plan to create a new sewer system to clean the river is an engineering marvel. And his sewers will save lives. Nothing stinky about that. With tips for how to prevent pollution today, this fascinating look at science, history, and what one person can do to create change will impress and astound readers who want to help make their planet a cleaner, happier place to live. SCBWI, Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers 2022 Bank Street College of Education, Best Books of the Year 2022 American Library Association, Notable Book 2022 Texas Library Association, Texas Topaz Nonfiction Gem 2022 Chicago Public Library, Best Informational Books for Younger Readers 2021 National Science Teaching Association, Best STEM Books K-12 2022 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection ✭ "This informative exploration of London's sanitation history will delight nonfiction fans interested in history, ecology, biography, and more...Far from stinky." - Kirkus , STARRED review ✭ "Colleen Paeff's debut is quite pleasant, despite the fact that she's writing about something best described as noxious...Together author and illustrator make a revolting topic utterly enticing." - Shelf Awareness , STARRED review "Paeff celebrates [Joseph Bazalgette's] engineering feat with a lively but orderly overview of the history of sanitation misinformation, including that coming from Bazalgette himself, and Carpenter has a field day illustrating a comical confrontation between Londoners and royalty and their offensive river." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Colleen Paeff received a Bachelor's Degree in set design for theater before becoming a bookseller, preschool teacher, and newspaper columnist. (She never did become a set designer!) Eventually, she figured out how to combine books, kids, and writing into one career-as a children's book author. Her debut picture book, "The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem," was named a 2022 Robert F. Sibert Informational Fiction Honor Book, received a 2022 Cook Prize Silver Medal, and won the SCBWI's Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction Text for Young Readers. Colleen lives in Los Angeles, CA and Brooklyn, NY. Learn more about her at or on Instagram and Twitter @ColleenPaeff. Nancy Carpenter is the acclaimed illustrator of Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Hunt , Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine , Fannie in the Kitchen , and Loud Emily , among other books. Her works have garnered many honors, including two Christopher Awards and the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at NancyCarpenter.website.
