"A dog's round nostrils have narrow
slits at the corners. When he breathes
out, these slits send the exhaled air to
the sides rather than straight ahead.
That means odors in front of the dog's
nose can be inhaled with his next
breath instead of being blown away."
If you have ever wondered whether dogs or humans would win in a battle of the senses, you need look no further than this new book about just exactly that subject. Two introductory pages remind readers that dogs and humans use their senses to make sense of the world around them. While some have unique abilities, this book is focused on how the senses are used in general.
Round 1 considers sight. We know that humans wear glasses; dogs don't. Does that mean that dogs have better sight? In four-page sections, the author offers proof that separates one from the other. Accompanied by familiar scenes of humans and dogs interacting, as well as a punny joke, information boxes, and a FIDO FACT, the author provides credible research to make the final determination about who wins the round before moving on to the next sense.
Sight leads to smell, taste, touch, hearing, all presented in a similar and accessible format that will keep readers interested and learning. A Bonus round suggests thinking about magnetoreception. Do you even know what that means? It is the ability to detect the Earth's magnetic field. Dogs use it to find their way home. The research is so new, that scientists are not yet sure if humans have the same sense. They suspect that we do.
After sharing all of the presented facts, a winner cannot be declared. While there are differences between dogs and humans, the final score is a tie.
"Here's the real final score: dogs are great at being dogs,
and humans are great at being humans. Although dogs
and people share the same environment, we adapted
differently and so we sense the world differently."
A glossary follows.
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