DID SOMEONE SAY ‘EWW’? C.V. Book Festival Explores Gross Jobs In History
geared towards children, teens and families, Oct. 22 session will offer hands-on activities
Evelyn Nelson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Prepare for an abundance of laughter, lots of learning and plenty of “EWW” moments as the Chippewa Valley Book Festival lineup continues through the latter end of October.
“Eww!! The Grossest Jobs Throughout History,” an interactive session hosted by the area book festival, will take place at 5pm on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire).
The in-person event invites children, teens, and their families to immerse themselves in the surprising, slimy, and stinky jobs throughout history. The space will welcome Christine Viring, the children’s author of Waist-Deep in Dung: A Stomach-Churning Look at the Grossest Jobs Throughout History.
“From poop scoopers to grave robbers to (toilet paper) holders, Christine brings history to life through gross-out fun and fascinating facts,” the Chippewa Valley Book Festival website reads.
Christine combines her expertise in child development — from her former role as a pediatric allergist to children’s librarian — to “craft stories that make kids laugh, scream and feel seen.”
Margaret Leonard, owner of Dotters Books in downtown Eau Claire — and a member of the book festival's authors and events committee — said this session, among other interactive offerings in this year’s festival lineup, offers a space where Chippewa Valley families can connect and discover new, unexpected themes through reading.
“(We are) trying to appeal to different types of readers and audiences,” Margaret said.
With these goals in mind, “Eww!! The Grossest Jobs Throughout History,” will offer hands-on and “super gross” activities — including food tastings and other opportunities to activate the different senses: sight, touch, hearing, among others.
Miles M., a youth volunteer of the Chippewa Valley Book Festival, said he loves the festival’s addition of “book picks” for young readers.
“It's a really silly book with some parts that will gross you out and some parts that will help you understand our world better,” Miles said, shared online through the Chippewa Valley Book Festival Facebook page.
“Eww! The Grossest Jobs Throughout History” is an in-person event and no registration is required. Just bring your curious mind and discover the surprisingly valuable elements of our world's more unsavory professions.
For additional information, and the complete 2025 Chippewa Valley Book Festival schedule, visit cvbookfest.org.
