Animal Senses: How Animals See, Hear, Smell and Feel

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Imagine being able to hold two litres of your favorite beverage up your
nose, or to use your big ears not just for hearing but to cool off your
body after a good workout, or to have your enemies mistake your rear end
for your face. These are just some of the amazing things animals do to
survive in the wild. In Animal Senses, young readers will not only learn
about how animals see, hear, taste, smell, and feel, but they will also
be shown how to try some of these awesome adaptations for themselves.

For example, if children wonder why predator chameleons have those big
swivel-mounted eyes, they can try bug-whacking themselves with the
simple aid of a curly, party blower, and a paper target. The advantage
of binocular vision becomes readily apparent as kids-turned-chameleons
try to hit their target with one eye closed. Other experiments include
trying to feel sound with your hands, smelling people before you can see
them, or improving your hearing by building animal-style movable ears.

The author has earned a solid reputation as a skilled science writer
for children. This book combines lively science prose with fun, hands-on
experiments. Pat Stephen’s superb realistic animal illustrations make
this book a sure-fire hit for young readers. Highly recommended.