Dogs vs. Humans:
A Showdown of the Senses
Illustrated by Bambi Edlund
Published by Owlkids Books
Whose five senses are superior: dogs or humans?
In a showdown of the senses, who would come out as top dog: canines or humans? This junior nonfiction book creates a fierce but fun competition, comparing the ways dogs and humans perceive the world through each of the five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.
As dogs and humans are playfully pitted against each other, with one round for each sense, young readers will discover the scientific and evolutionary explanations behind our differences. It’s a close race! Humans win for sight, with better depth perception, distance, and color vision. But dogs are stronger sniffers—with their noses, some can even locate people buried in an avalanche or detect an illness before a doctor has diagnosed it. And the winner is … Well, in the end, it’s a tie!
With lively, cartoon-style illustrations, this book is an engaging and informative introduction to dog behavior that can help kids better understand and appreciate their canine companions.
Nonfiction picture book for ages 5 to 8.
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Praise for Dogs vs. Humans:
“For readers who wonder how dogs can be so good at 'spotting squirrels waaay across the park and hunting down unattended hamburgers,' Gibeault has answers...If Round 1 goes to the humans, Round 2 definitely goes to the dogs, thanks to canine scent receptors and nasal anatomy superbly adapted to reading doggy butts and 'pee-mail' on the local hydrant. Readers curious about which contestants will taste or feel the victory in subsequent rounds, or who gets the 'upper paw' in hearing, may be in for some surprises...A tasty morsel for dog owners and dog lovers.”
- Kirkus Reviews
“This romp of a book explores how dogs and humans stack up in using each of their five senses (plus a nod to the less-understood sense of magnetoreception)...Chatty, conversational paragraphs explain each species’ sensory skills, while colorful sidebars tell jokes, give more details, keep score, and offer additional “Fido Facts” about dogs. Light-hearted, colorful illustrations feature different breeds of constantly-smiling dogs, and humans with a variety of abilities and backgrounds...the message that we are all good at being ourselves, and that different adaptations are valid, is a welcome one. While dog-lovers will be especially enthusiastic, this is a broadly appealing dive into a deeper understanding of the five senses in general.”
- Booklist
“Using a light-hearted gameshow motif, the author of this sometimes humorous, and always informative book, takes readers on a journey of discovery regarding how dogs and human beings compare in how they interact with the world…Ultimately, the competition between dogs and human beings ends in a tie, proving that while species may be very different, they have the skillsets to survive and prosper. Told with a combination of a tongue-in-cheek delivery and many fascinating facts, this is a book that dog lovers and young scientists will thoroughly enjoy.”
- Childrens Literature Comprehensive Database
“This new book sets a high bar in its thoroughly well-stated facts, great layout and design, and engaging illustrations. Dog-lovers will be delighted, and even those who aren't already fido-fans (WHAT?!) may just be won over to greater appreciation for canines. Kids of any age will love this one, and adults are likely to be intrigued by more than a few surprises in the well-organized content.”
- Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books