Hear This!, Vol. 1

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Each book in the "Let's start! Science" series about the senses starts the same way—there is an introduction to our five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch). Hewitt then focuses on the particular sense noted in the title. She has colorful examples that feature kids and they are ones that kids can easily relate to. These examples manage to impart lessons painlessly such as hearing a loud siren which could mean that there is danger or that an emergency vehicle is on its way. Every few pages there are activities to reinforce the learning such as an easy experiment kids can perform such as closing your eyes and listening while a friend is bouncing a ball or eating an apple and guessing what is happening. We learn a lot just by listening and there are other activities to test retention and the importance of two ears to determine where sound is coming from. There is a simple diagram showing how sound travels in waves and that receptors in our ears pick up these sound waves and send messages to the brain. Questions throughout the text encourage thinking and discussion. Now that readers have a basic understanding of hearing and its importance, the final section describes for kids what it is like to be deaf and how the other senses such as sight by using sign language and reading lips can help deaf children communicate. The book closes with another series of questions, a short glossary, index and a full page note for teachers and parents with advice as to other activities that can teach children even more about hearing. A really good choice for home or classroom and as noted on the cover "an exciting way to learn about your senses." Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot