Why Don't You Smell When You're Sleeping?

The latest compendium of fantastic facts from Mitchell Symons, the king of trivia and twice winner of the Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award.

Mitchell Symons was born in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied Law. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the board game Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. Currently he writes an award-winning column for the Sunday Express. Mitchell has won the Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Awards twice, for WHY EATING BOGEYS IS GOOD FOR YOU and DO IGLOOS HAVE LOOS?

Did you know... 
 
that a 'zyzzyx' is a type of wasp? 
that the chances of being injured by a toilet seat at some point in your life are reckoned to be one in 6.500? 
that the collective noun for giraffes is the very apt a 'tower of giraffes' 
and that snail races start with the words 'ready, steady, SLOW!' 
 
Amaze your mates and fascinate your family with these brilliant facts, and more!

Why Spacemen Can't Burp...

The latest collection of terrific trivia from the bestselling author of WHY EATING BOGEYS IS GOOD FOR YOU and double Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award winner.

Mitchell Symons was born in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied law. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the boardgame Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. He is also the author of more than thirty books, and currently writes a weekly column for the Sunday Express. Why Eating Bogeys is Good for You won the Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award in 2010 and he repeated this success with Do Igloos Have Loos? in 2011.

The latest collection of terrific trivia from the bestselling author of WHY EATING BOGEYS IS GOOD FOR YOU and double Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award winner. 
 
The answers to these incredible questions will boggle your brain! 
Can rocks have snot? 
Why do doughnuts have holes in the middle? 
Could a human child ever be raised by animals? 
What have hyenas got to laugh about? 
And why is it impossible to belch after blast-off?!

Modern Cautionary Tales

Happily Never After

From bestselling revolting reference expert Mitchell Symons comes this wickedly funny modern take on Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Verses.

These poems will have you laughing out loud, just before you pause and think, "is Mitchell Symons writing about me?" Ideal for reading aloud at parties and family gatherings when the not-so-young may appreciate the humour even more than the children! Absolutely hilarious!

From bestselling revolting reference expert Mitchell Symons comes this wickedly funny modern take on Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Verses. 
 
Meet a true rogue's gallery of horrid kids who hit the skids. Callum: who was a dreadful bully until he received his come-uppance; Tiffany: who couldn't put down her mobile phone and died a horrible death; Bill: whose ability to fart ended in tears and Chloe: whose determination to have the most Facebook friends meant she lost her real ones.

Don't Wipe Your Bum with a Hedgehog

A collection of wise and wacky words of advice, from the bestselling and double Blue Peter Best Book with Facts-winning Mitchell Symons.

Mitchell Symons was born in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied Law. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the board game Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. Mitchell has won the Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award twice, with WHY EATING BOGEYS IS GOOD FOR YOU and DO IGLOOS HAVE LOOS?

A collection of wise and wacky words of advice, from the bestselling and double Blue Peter Best Book with Facts-winning Mitchell Symons. 
 
From the marvellous mind of Mitchell Symons comes such gems of wisdom as: 
You can't trust a dog to watch your food. 
Why buy shampoo when real poo is free? 
Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, as you won't have a leg to stand on. 
And if getting even doesn't work, just get odd!

Facts and figures, stats and stories – an unputdownable treat of trivia

The Bumper Book For The Loo

The Bumper Book for the Loo is a hilarious compendium of endless delights - and a hugely entertaining, unputdownable feat of nonsense in the bestselling tradition of This Book, That Book and The Other Book.

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless subjects than anybody on earth

Mitchell Symons was a principal writer for the early editions of Trivial Pursuit, has worked as a broadcaster and journalist for a variety of newspapers and magazines, and has written more than fifty bestselling books, including several for children. He has won the prestigious Blue Peter award for 'Best Book With Facts' for the past two years. Mitch is also a very keen and skilful poker player, and has recently written The Book of Poker Calls with his son Jack. He lives in Brighton with his wife Penny and their two sons.

When Mitchell Symons wrote his extraordinary bestsellers This Book, That Book and The Other Book - all neatly combined in one sensational volume, The Ultimate Loo Book - he was judged by many to be the King of Trivia. Now, inThe Bumper Book for the Loo, this supremo of weird and wonderful, astonishing and inexplicable facts, figures, stats and stories returns with a super selection of trivialistic treats - each one more remarkable and, yes, even more trivial than anything he's compiled before. 
 
For example, did you know that... 
 
·The first alarm clock could only ring at 4 a.m... 
·There was once an internet rumour that Belgium doesn't exist... 
·In 1830, King Louis XIX ruled France for just 15 minutes... 
·All mammals have jaws but only humans have chins... 
·Peru has more pyramids than Egypt... 
 
Packed to the rafters with all manner of useful and useless information, lists of the biggest, the smallest, the best and the worst, The Bumper Book for the Loo is a hilarious compendium of endless delights - and a hugely entertaining, unputdownable feat of nonsense!

Fascinating facts, figures and miscellany from one of BBC Radio 4’s best-loved programmes

Desert Island Discs: Flotsam & Jetsam

A treasury of fascinating facts, figures and miscellany in celebration of 70 years of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

This ultimate trivia book for fans of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs invites the reader to delve into a treasure trove of castaway anecdotes and amusing luxury items... Guaranteed to take readers on a magical journey through the last 70 years of music

Thoroughly researched, lively and lighthearted... an artifact - the kind you would take to a desert island

Mitchell Symons is the doyen of trivialists, who has been truffling out absurd facts ever since he wrote all the questions in Trivial Pursuit that weren’t wrong. This book is exhaustive and slightly mad, and my life was appreciably poorer before I owned it. Outstanding

Mitchell Symons was born in London and studied Law at the LSE. He has worked as both a BBC television researcher and director, and was a principal writer for the early editions of Trivial Pursuit. An experienced broadcaster and journalist, Mitchell won the Columnist of the Year award in 2002 and now writes a regular column for the Sunday Express. He has written several books and for the past two years he has won the prestigious Blue Peter ‘Best Book with Facts’ award. He lives with his wife Penny and their two sons in Sussex.

Flotsam &amp; Jetsam is the ultimate trivia book for fans of the popular BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs, and a fascinating introduction for all those who have yet to discover its delights. 
 
Taking the reader through seven decades of wonderful entertainment, here is an absorbing range of facts, figures and miscellany – including who chose what, and why. It also reveals much about the castaways' drives and motivations, their influences and, of course, their lives. 
 
Spanning the early years with the original presenter, Roy Plomley, and the present day, the Desert Island Discs programme has brought its own unique surprises to listeners, some very personal, some humorous, such as Eric Morecambe's choice of a deckchair as his luxury and Ernie Wise's of a deckchair ticket machine. 
 
From Beethoven to the Beatles, from chessboards and chocolate to Jane Austen and Zola, Flotsam &amp; Jetsam is the perfect companion guide to the national treasure that is Desert Island Discs.

On Your Farts, Get Set, Go!

The eighth collection of terrific trivia from the bestselling author of WHY EATING BOGEYS IS GOOD FOR YOU and double Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award-winner.

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless subjects than anybody on Earth.

Mitchell Symons was born in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied Law. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the board game Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. Currently he writes an award-winning column for the Sunday Express.

Mitchell Symons has stats and stories to entertain and amaze you! 
 
Did the Olympians really compete in the buff? 
 
Which striker's shorts fell down when he was taking a penalty? 
 
Which sport consists of running while juggling? 
 
Which football team's fanzine is called Linesman, You're Rubbish?

Do Igloos Have Loos?

The 7th crazy collection of terrific trivia from the bestselling author of WHY EATING BOGEYS IS GOOD FOR YOU.

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless subjects than anybody on Earth

It's an idiosyncratic galmaufry of answers to questions that range from the scientifically verified to the nebulously philosophical . . . It's good, (almost) clean fun, ideal for fans of trivia to dip into

Here's an entertaining title for young and old alike . . . Really great fun!

Ever wondered . . . 
 
Why are slugs so slimy? 
 
Why does your skin go wrinkly in the bath? 
 
How clever is your right foot? 
 
What is the best thing to do if you fall into quicksand? 
 
And do igloos have loos? 
 
Mitchell Symons knows the answers . . . and now you will too!

That's So Gross!: Animals

A funny and fascinating new series from Mitch Symons - the double Blue Peter Award winning, revolting reference expert!

Boys love facts. And the more disgusting these facts are, the better. As I have mentioned on The Book Zone in the past, some of the most popular books in the school library are The Guiness Book of Records and Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Every break time there are groups of boys gathered around the various volumes of these that we have on the shelves, and sometimes we have to step in and encourage them to enjoy them in a slightly less rowdy manner, especially where Ripley's is concerned. Thus, when these four books arrived from the generous people at Random House I decided that before going through them myself I would put them to the test in the school library. We took the boys' favourites off the shelf for one break time and had these ready in their place, and then sat back to observe their reaction. 
 
Their reaction spoke volumes. After the initial disappointment at the absence of their glossy, large format favourites they were soon gathered around in their groups, taking it in turns to flick through whichever book they had in search of the grossest fact they could find. Cue raucous laughter and non-stop giggling for the next twenty minutes - Mitchell Symons's That's So Gross books passed the test with flying colours!

The Book Zone (for boys): bookzone4boys.blogspot.com

Animals, creepy crawlies and the human body are tackled in a Horrible Histories way, and each book is packed with the sort of disgusting trivia that delights children under eight.

Mitchell Symons was born in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied Law. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the board game Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. Currently he writes an award-winning column for the Sunday Express.

IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE... 
 
Arm yourself with the answers to top trivia such as: 
 
Why are porcupines so pongy? 
 
Why do angry monkeys fling their poo at each other? 
 
Why do ostriches pee on their own legs? 
 
Includes cool collector cards to swap with your mates.

That's So Gross!: Human Body

NOXIOUS NOISES AND STINKY SMELLS . . . 
 
Amaze your mates with top trivia such as: 
 
Why do we puke and sweat? 
 
Which tribe uses farting as a greeting? 
 
How likely are you to be injured by a toilet seat?

That's So Gross!: Creepy Crawlies

GO MAD FOR MINIBEASTS! 
 
Discover the answers to top trivia such as: 
 
Does the dung beetle really stink? 
 
Why are caterpillars so muscly? 
 
Why would fleas be champion high-jumpers? 
 
Includes cool collector cards to swap with your mates.

Why You Need a Passport When You're Going to Puke

Double Blue Peter Award winner, Mitchell Symons' latest collection goes global - packed full of crazy facts from around the world!

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless  subjects that anybody on Earth

Mitchell Symons was born in 1957 in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied Law. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the board game Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. Currently he writes an award-winning column for the Sunday Express.

DID YOU KNOW . . . 
 
Square watermelons are sold in Japan? 
 
There is a River Piddle in Dorset? 
 
Americans use enough toilet paper daily to wrap around the world nine times? 
 
Mitchell Symons goes global - join him on his fun fact-finding world tour!

Why Does Ear Wax Taste So Gross?

Mitchell Symons' latest file'o'facts is as weird, wonderful and entertaining as ever!

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless subjects that anybody on Earth

DID YOU KNOW? 
 
Stinky ear wax has been hanging around in the ear canal for nearly a month before it is 'pickable'! 
 
Humans share a third of their DNA with lettuce. 
 
Cockroaches fart every fifteen minutes. 
 
Giraffes never kneel. 
 
The average person spends six months of their life on the loo. 
 
Amaze your friends and fascinate your family with this book packed with jaw-dropping, eyebrow-raising facts.

Why Do Farts Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

No subject is too strange, and no trivia too tough for double Blue Peter Award winner, Mitchell Symons in his latest compendium of facts.

EVER WONDERED . . . 
 
Why we burp? 
 
What a wotsit is? 
 
Whether lemmings really jump off cliffs? 
 
Why vomit always contains carrots? 
 
And why do farts smell like rotten eggs? 
 
No subject is too strange and no trivia too tough for Mitchell Symons, who has the answer to these crazy questions, and many more.

How Much Poo Does an Elephant Do?

A further compendium of funny, fascinating, jaw-dropping, eyebrow-raising trivia from bestselling, double Blue Peter Award winner, Mitchell Symons!

Children and adults alike will want to keep delving in for just one more fact

Mitchell Symons was born in 1957 in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied just enough law to get a Third. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the board game Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. Currently he writes an award-winning weekly column for the Sunday Express.

Let Mitchell Symons be your guide into the weird and wonderful world of trivia. 
 
Camels are born without humps. 
 
Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse, was scared of mice. 
 
Only 30% of humans can flare their nostrils 
 
A group of twelve or more cows is called a flink 
 
And an elephant produces an eye-wateringly pongy 20 kilos of dung a day!

Why Eating Bogeys is Good for You

More fabulous facts revealed from the master of trivia and double Blue Peter Award winner, Mitch Symons!

Wonderful present idea for reluctant readers. Curiosity will overcome all resistance

This absorbing anthology of unlikely information is a real treat . . . The answers are explained expertly and entertainingly and leave your brain stuffed with absurd trivia

EVER WONDERED . . . 
 
Why we have tonsils? 
 
Is there any cream in cream crackers? 
 
Why is the sea blue? 
 
And if kangaroos keep their babies in their pouches, what happens to all the poo?! 
 
Mitch Symons answers all these crazy questions and plenty more in this wonderfully funny and addictive book for children from 8 to 80! 
 
And yes, eating bogeys is good for you . . . but only your own!

How to Avoid a Wombat's Bum

The ultimate trivia guide for kids from the bestselling, double Blue Peter Award winning, Mitchell Symons!

Mitchell Symons was born in 1957 in London and educated at Mill Hill School and the LSE, where he studied just enough law to get a Third. Since leaving BBC TV, where he was a researcher and then a director, he has worked as a writer, broadcaster and journalist. He was a principal writer of early editions of the board game Trivial Pursuit and has devised many television formats. Currently he writes an award-winning weekly column for the Sunday Express.

Did you know THAT: 
 
The first ready-to-eat breakfast cereal was Shredded Wheat in 1893 (it beat Kellogg's Corn Flakes by just five years) 
 
Scarlett Johansson, Ashton Kutcher and Simon Cowell all have twin brothers. 
 
Everton were the first British football club to introduce a stripe down the side of their shorts. 
 
The word DUDE was coined by Oscar Wilde and his friends. It is a combination of the words 'duds' and 'attitude'. 
 
Well you do now! Filled with fantastic facts and figures to amaze and intrigue . . . once you start reading you'll be hooked for hours!

Mitchell Symons

This is just the sort of information to give children a background to history and hopefully encourage them to delve a little deeper into this fascinating subject. They will love to appal parents, friends and teachers with the gruesome facts in the book - and the illustrations are just as gruesome.

Parents in Touch (www.parentsintouch.co.uk)

FRIGHTFUL FACTS AND GORY STORIES . . . 
 
Top trivia about life in the past such as: 
 
Did Vikings wear horns on their helmets? 
 
How did Ancient Egyptians make their mummies? 
 
Which animals were gladiators forced to fight?

Mitchell Symons

Praise for That's So Gross!: History

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless subjects than anybody on Earth

This is just the sort of information to give children a background to history and hopefully encourage them to delve a little deeper into this fascinating subject. They will love to appal parents, friends and teacher ...

Animals, creepy crawlies and the human body are tackled in a Horrible Histories way, and each book is packed with the sort of disgusting trivia that delights children under eight.

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless subjects than anybody on Earth

This is just the sort of information to give children a background to history and hopefully encourage them to delve a little deeper into this fascinating subject. They will love to appal parents, friends and teacher ...

Animals, creepy crawlies and the human body are tackled in a Horrible Histories way, and each book is packed with the sort of disgusting trivia that delights children under eight.

Mitch knows more totally useless things about useless subjects than anybody on Earth

This is just the sort of information to give children a background to history and hopefully encourage them to delve a little deeper into this fascinating subject. They will love to appal parents, friends and teacher ...

Animals, creepy crawlies and the human body are tackled in a Horrible Histories way, and each book is packed with the sort of disgusting trivia that delights children under eight.

Books by Mitchell Symons

Series by Mitchell Symons

Mitchell Symons' Trivia Books8 Books

That's So Gross!4 Books

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