Animal Senses: How Animals See, Hear, Taste, Smell and Feel (Animal Behavior) [Hardcover]

Pamela Hickman (Author), Pat Stephens (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1998 | Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Animal Behavior

Imagine that you had to taste your dinner by walking on it, like a butterfly, or use your tongue to sniff out your next snack, like a snake. Animal Senses reveals the extraordinary ways animals sense their environment. Easy-to-do experiments and activities show kids how to compare animal senses to their own. With stunning, realistic illustrations, this book from the Animal Behavior series is an innovative approach to understanding animal life. (199805)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5AHickman looks at each of the senses as experienced by a variety of animals, compares them to corresponding human traits, and focuses on one or two interesting environmental adaptations or defense mechanisms. For example, the section on sight examines different types of animal eyes, and then devotes almost a page to frogs and the placement of their eyes on top of their heads. A final chapter looks at "extra" senses humans don't have, such as the rattlesnake's heat-sensing ability. Much of this material can be found in other sources, but this book also includes demonstrations designed to foster a better understanding of the ways animals use their senses. One involves filling a bucket with sand and burying pieces of fruit and other objects in it. Feeling for the food objects and differentiating among them approximates the experience of a walrus using its whiskers on a muddy ocean bottom. The large (often full-page), full-color drawings and neatly boxed text make the book both attractive and easy to read. The information will not be sufficient for a long report, but it is a good introductory or supplementary source. The experiments could also be used as science projects or classroom activities. This title will also be fascinating to browsers, who can pick up all sorts of factual tidbits.AArwen Marshall, New York Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. Eight of the double-page spreads in this large-format book feature big, detailed paintings of individual animals, just the sort of pictures that preschool and primary-grade teachers could use on the topic. The other pages, with smaller pictures, paragraphs of information, and science activities, seem to be aimed at somewhat older children. Whatever audience discovers the book, kids will find plenty of intriguing information about how different animals (including frogs, bats, butterflies, deer, and others) not only see, hear, smell, taste, and feel what's around them but also pick up on clues by sensing heat, electricity, and magnetic fields. This attractive volume combines pick-me-up visual appeal with solid facts about animal senses. Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550744232
• ISBN-13: 978-1550744231
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,351,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Interactive Book on Animal Senses, March 9, 2007

By 

Mom Who Reads A Lot (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal Senses: How Animals See, Hear, Taste, Smell and Feel (Animal Behavior) (Paperback)

I LOVE this book! It takes each of the human senses and compares it with various types of animals. It is filled with fun facts and activities to mimic animal senses.

Look through a kitchen colander; this is how an insect and lobster sees. Use a party blower and try to knock a small wad of paper off an upside down paper cup to mimic a chameleon trying to catch a tasty treat.

The author includes a lot of interesting facts throughout the book. Such as comparing the different location of eyes depending on whether the animal is a predator. Predator's eyes are positioned in front of the head and uses binocular vision to find prey. Non-predators have eyes on the sides of their heads to help locate danger.

This book is fantastic, I highly recommend it.