Switched On, Flushed Down, Tossed Out: Investigating the Hidden Workings of Your Home

Janet Collins is a freelance writer in Sechelt, British Columbia.

A great follow-up to Romanek’s Mysterious You series, this book
provides information about, and answers to, the tough questions kids ask
about how things in the home work. Many of the topics covered are things
we take for granted—like running water, electricity, and garbage
removal—but few of us really know how it all works. A young detective
leads an investigation that begins with his far-fetched theories and
ends with a detailed examination of what goes on behind the walls of the
average home. Eye-catching, colourful illustrations help younger
children understand the complex systems that warm, cool, shelter, and
entertain them.

Fun and engaging, Switched On, Flushed Down, Tossed Out is packed with
fascinating information. One of the book’s great features is that,
rather than skipping from topic to topic, it explores one subject in
depth before moving on. For example, under “Water Works,” Casey
learns how water comes into his home, where waste water goes, and how it
is able to travel up and down through multi-storey buildings. A page of
further reading material for the still-curious mind is also included,
along with a thorough index that even has listings for common kid words
like “pee” and “poop.” Recommended.