Smell It!, Vol. 3

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. Her colorful examples feature kids and they are ones that kids can easily relate to. These examples manage to impart lessons painlessly such as a good smell usually means something is good or tasty and a bad smell may mean danger—for example, food has gone bad. Every few pages there are activities to reinforce the learning—an easy experiment kids can perform such as hiding a piece of smelly cheese in a room and using your nose to find it. We learn a lot just by smelling and there is an activity to demonstrate what you would miss when your nose is stuffed up and you can't smell. The brain remembers smells and retention is improved when you see what is producing the smell. Questions throughout the text encourage thinking and discussion. The city and the country smell very differently as does sea air and you can tell where you are just by sniffing. The book closes with another series of activities, 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 smell. 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