Smelling

April 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-Geared toward the higher end of early learning, this series combines more complex text with standards based content. With longer, more literary sentences and fewer visual clues than often found in similar sets on this topic, this set aims to introduce not only the five senses but some of the science behind them. In Touching, readers are introduced to the concept of receptors, including mechanoreceptors, nociceptors, and thermoreceptors. In Seeing, vocabulary words such as cones, rods, retina, and iris are introduced. Full color photographs are displayed against vividly colored backgrounds, making the vibe of the series a bit busy. Elementary-age children of different ethnicities are represented, along with adults. VERDICT Most useful in school library collections and large library system collections.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2018
Grades 2-4 Young readers know when things smell beautiful or gross, and in this entry in the Five Senses series (5 titles), they'll get an approachable introduction to how people smell and why it's important. Readers will follow scent molecules as they float through the air and come into contact with the nasal cavity, and they'll learn the role the brain plays in allowing people to perceive and recognize scents. Illustrated diagrams show the path scent molecules take, and photographs of people using their sense of smell help to illustrate how this sense can warn of danger. Lists of print and internet resources include books about how animals use their own extraordinary senses of smell. A good introductory resource on the process of smelling and the benefits of this sense.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)