Stinky Science

Title:   Stinky Science

Author:  Edward Kay

Illustrations: Mike Shiell

Publisher: Kids Can Press

ISBN: 9781771383820

Review:

The world we live in has things that we find very unpleasant to smell. But without smell we can’t taste, and we wouldn’t know that something may be wrong. This stinky guide will help educate readers on the science of smell.

Not being able to smell is a serious medical condition called anosmia and can lead to depression. We all know that smelling smoke means there could be a fire and with that we go into a danger mode which leads to a fight or flight reaction. Other danger smells are rotting flesh which is caused by bacteria and fungi. Vultures are an animal that loves that smell. For them it’s a dinner bell. Humans can’t eat rotting flesh. Our bodies can’t digest it and we could die. Salmonella is an odorless bacterium that makes humans sick and some people have died from eating foods contaminated with this bacterium.

Our noses can detect over 10,000 unique smells. It’s why we know the difference between a flower’s smell and a poopy smell. Smell is processed through the olfactory bulb in your brain. Did you know that girls have a better sense of smell than boys? Smells are a part of our memory. We remember the things that smell good and bad. Smell is also linked to emotions. Animals use stinky smells like skunks, polecats and even some beetles, as a defense mechanism against animals that prey on them.

This handy guide will teach readers all about smells, how the brain works identifying smells, how odors are chemicals, how odors are similar to food and other objects that don’t have anything in common. The science of smell will have readers engaged and can answer a lot of questions. Hilariously silly illustrations can be found on every page enlightening readers to the science of smell. Parents and teachers can use this tool to open up discussions with young readers regarding the good and bad smells they’ve experienced and what memories and emotions they’ve had associated with smell.

Courtesy of Edelweiss