Cat Eyes and Dog Whistles: The Five Seven Senses of Humans and Other Animals

by Cathy Evans, Becky Thorns (Illustrator)

Overview

With bold, bright illustrations by award-winning illustrator, Becky Thorns, this is a marvellous science/biology book that will get kids thinking about how their bodies interact with and make sense of the world around them.

''I’m a little peculiar, but I love children’s books about the senses. Why? Because inevitably they’ll do what this book does and explain that there really aren’t just five out there but SEVEN! A great non-fiction read." — Fuse 8, School Library Journal

''Capsules of information supplemented by attractive visual embellishments by Becky Thorn brings to life each sense and how it works in human and animal kingdoms alike. The result is a fun survey that is both educational and appealing.'' — Midwest Book Review

''Informal language and lighthearted illustration add a touch of humor in the presentation of solid information, sure to engage.'' — Reading Rockets, Summer Reading Guide Pick 2022

You won’t believe your eyes… or ears or nose….! Learn how our bodies make sense of reality in this fact packed book about sensory perception.

They say that seeing is believing – and there’s some truth in that. Highly sensitive receptor cells in our eyes, ears, noses, tongues and skin relay messages to the brain and allow us to interpret the things going on around us, creating our sense of reality. But how do our senses work? And how do they differ from the senses of other animals?

This book takes young readers step by step through the biology of each of the senses. Clear texts are peppered with fascinating facts. Did you know that, unlike the other senses, smells are delivered directly to the parts of our brain that are responsible for memory and emotion, meaning that smells can trigger feelings in a way that sight or sound can’t? Did you know that a cow has about 250,000 taste buds, compared to 5,000 of a human, and a mere 30 of a chicken? Or that earwax is 80% dead skin?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781800660137
Publisher:	Cicada Books
Publication date:	04/19/2022
Pages:	60
Sales rank:	987,354
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	6 - 11 Years

About the Author

Cathy Evans is veterinarian and writer living and working in Bournemouth. Her background in the sciences and her love of animals helped her bring home-schooling alive during lockdown, and inspired her to write this book. 

Becky Thorns is a Cornwall-based illustrator who has worked with publishers including Nosy Crow and Little Gestalten. Her work on The World of Whales (Little Gestalten) was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards, 2020.

Editorial Reviews

'Libraries looking for an attractive oversized display book about animal and human senses will find that Cathy Evans's Cat Eyes and Dog Whistles: The Seven Senses of Humans and Other Animals will attract leisure readers as well as students. Becky Thorns provides engaging drawings that bring to life these explorations. The book's organization is designed to add capsules of information supplemented by attractive visual embellishments on each sense and how it works in human and animal kingdoms alike. The result is a fun survey that is both educational and appealing'. — Midwest Book Review

'Everyone knows their five senses — sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing — right? But there are two more: proprioception (letting you touch your nose with your finger without seeing either body part) and the vestibular system (in charge of balance). Informal language and lighthearted illustration add a touch of humor in the presentation of solid information, sure to engage'. — Reading Rockets, Summer Reading Guide Pick 2022

'I’m a little peculiar, but I love children’s books about the senses. Why? Because inevitably they’ll do what this book does and explain that there really aren’t just five out there but SEVEN! Would you like a quickie explanation for how you can get kids interested in this book? Tell them to read it through and then quiz the adults in their lives about those seven senses. That’ll do the trick'. — Fuse 8, School Library Journal

'This non-fiction book about the senses is full of fascinating facts about the more-than-five senses that humans and animals share. How the senses work, and why, are covered in conversational language, in standard print font, accented with blurbs in a handwriting font. Lively cartoon art is profuse and keeps the tone light, and depicts people with diverse skin colors and with humorous details. And it’s not just about the facts: urban legends are mentioned as well, and explained, such as the one about how sharks can smell a drop of blood a mile away (it’s an exaggeration – it’s more like one quarter of a mile away.)

There are sweet details, such as the two men holding hands in the chapter on touch receptors. And there are enough gross-out facts to make any third grader laugh. Kids will also learn about proprioception (the body’s awareness of its location) and the vestibular system (our brain’s stabilizing system), and other lesser know senses. A glossary and index round off this fun and informative book'. — Youth Services Book Review

'Full of just the type of obscure facts that will fascinate and delight young readers. This text features really clear explanations of how our senses work, how they work in other animals, and other sense that animals have but we don’t. The spreads are colourful and generously illustrated, which readers will love. 8+'. — Library Girl and Book Boy

'Cat Eyes and Dog Whistles: The Seven Senses of Humans and Other Animals is a step-by-step guide through the biology of the senses, bringing to life the remarkable world of communication in all it’s forms. Did you know that smells can trigger feelings and emotion in a way sight and sound can’t? Did you know that a cow has 250,000 tastebuds, compared to a human’s 5,000? A lively and engaging narrative gives brilliant insight, accompanied by colourful and equally lively illustrations. It’s time to make sense of the senses!' — The BookActivist

'This fascinating journey through the senses explores seven senses shared by humans and animals. Five of them – hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch most of us know about – but proprioception and the vestibular system will be new to some. Not only will this be a fascinating book to help children in KS2 learn about how humans and animals experience and relate to the world around them, but it will also enlighten readers about people and pets who have difficulties due to deficits with particular senses'. — School Reading List

'Author and veterinarian Cathy Evans along with illustrator Becky Thorns has brought out this beautiful book for young readers on the biology of our five senses, with colourful diagrams pointing to the details on how we see, smell, eat, feel, and hear. Full of scientific terms with glossary and fun facts; your inquisitive kiddies will love the combination of colours and information.

This book is a great way to introduce growing kids to the science of the body in living beings. Good for kids aged 9-14, include this mini repository of amazing facts in their library to let them explore and learn in a fun way!' — Armadillo Children's Magazine

From the Publisher