Haskell, Corrin. Passin’ Gas in Class. Illustrated by Marlon Sagana Ingram. Alamo, CA: ALIVE Publishing Group, 2021.

Summary

They’ve been laughter’s catalyst for millennia. Young boys revel in anything related to them, whereas young ladies loathe everything about them. These common, uncontrollable “things,” while part and parcel of the human condition, are generally avoided if possible, but alas, endured by everyone at one time or another. Often the cause of embarrassment for both “culprit” and “victim,” they sometimes transform an otherwise stuffy gent into a cackling fool. Of course, we are talking about… farts!

Corrin Haskell’s second book, “Passin’ Gas in Class,” is based upon his 25 years’ experience teaching 5^th grade students about how “farts” are best handled in classroom situations. This hilarious book-for students, parents, and teachers-is sure to bring laughter and smiles… almost like a good, loud “you-know-what.”

Purchase Passin’ Gas in Class on Amazon

My Kid Review

I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical about passing gas. It is an event in every elementary (and some middle) school classroom that has the boys creating a ruckus and the girls declaring “eew.” Haskell has 25 years experience in the classroom so I’m sure this is a situation he has faced many, many times. 

Passin’ Gas in Class takes a subject that can be difficult to deal with and handles it quite tastefully. Passin’ Gas in Class is a book elementary teachers may want to have in their classroom library. Sure it will bring out the giggles but it certainly does explain a biological fact of life for all of us and teaches ways to tastefully handle the situation. I’m not overly fond of some of the suggestions, but they are ones that will come out in an elementary classroom. 

I think K-12 Christian school librarians will need to decide for themselves if they want this book in their library – I can see where there might be objections to the topic. However, it could fit well into a study of human body systems. 

I received a complimentary copy of Passin’ Gas in Class. This is my honest review.

About Corrin Haskell

Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Corrin Haskell moved to Oakland, California in the mid-nineties to pursue a teaching career after graduating from the University of Washington. Currently, he has been teaching 5th grade at Brookfield Elementary in Oakland, CA for the past 25 years. He also coaches a variety of sports teams and is involved with many community programs surrounding the school. Recently he was recognized as an “All-Star Educator” by the NBA Cares programs and has done a lot of work with the Learn Fresh non-profit education company. In addition, he founded and ran the reggae/dancehall record label, Lustre Kings Productions, for two decades, before moving into the world of children’s literature. Passing Gas in Class is his second novel, as he published his debut book in 2020, entitled The Water Hole. This is one of many children’s books he has written and hopes to release in the coming years.

His third book, Math Hoops, will be released in partnership with the Learn Fresh nonprofit. Through community, play, and rigorous exploration, they leverage students’ passion for sports and entertainment to inspire their STEM and social-emotional learning.