Review Copy Courtesy of Arbordale Publishing

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[Library] Worldcat

Animals Noses by Mary Holland is part of a series of picture books about animal anatomy – the others being Animal Ears, Animal Eyes, Animal Mouths, Animal Legs, and Animal Tales. This is the first one we’ve read in this series – and we love it. We read the English language version, but a Spanish language version is also available.

In Animal Noses, readers will enjoy the large, clear, and enchanting photographs of a wide range of animals and the interesting facts about their noses and sense of smell that are placed alongside them. Engaging questions are dotted between facts that have children looking, guessing, and excitedly calling out what they think the answer might be.

The tone of the book is straightforward but friendly, factual but never dry. It’s impressive how skillfully the information is chosen and presented so as to keep my kids hanging on to every word.

Despite the many books about animals we’ve read, I found with Animals Noses we were all still finding ourselves saying, “Really? I didn’t know that! That’s amazing!” I had no idea that polar bears could smell seals though 1 meter of ice (that’s ice as thick as my littlest one is tall). I also had never heard that deer keep their noses wet by licking them. (That fact was a huge hit at our house and had my goofy kids joking around and saying that maybe if they want to smell better they should lick their noses.)

Insects, snakes, turtles, frogs, beavers, moles and their noses are also discussed – and it’s all so interesting and well done. There is a section at the end that can be photocopied for educational use that talks about our sense of smell. Another page of fun facts, a “Match the Nose” section, and on the last page you guess which one of the animals has a very good sense of smell. It’s fun to watch my boys light up as they answer the questions.

We all really love it and I especially enjoy how afterwards the kids will gleefully talk and chatter on about all they just learned.

Mary Holland is a naturalist, educator, photographer, prolific writer, and in general a very interesting person. Holland’s love of the natural world and her knowledge of how to talk to people about nature clearly comes through with this book. You can learn more about her, see her amazing photography, and discover other books she has written on her blog at www.naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com

Where Obtained:  I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FTC Disclosures:  Some of the links in the post above are Amazon affiliate links and others are IndieBound affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase something, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Which goes to fund my family’s picture book habit.  It’s a vicious cycle, but we manage.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”