Butterflies taste with their feet, a bumblebee can see a flower's ultraviolet colours, a shark can sense its prey's electric pulses... Tasting With Your Feet explores the myriad, and often bizarre, ways that animals use their senses to make their way in the world.
Author and illustrator Ned Barraud is the king of wildlife, and this book is no different. His incredible illustrations dance across the page in vivid detail.
The book looks like it's all about animals, but don't be fooled. Each of the five senses are explored first in a human, before comparing and contrasting the ways animals use that sense. Barraud also touches on other sensory systems - such as proprioception - too, making it a fascinating resource.
I loved the range of animals used within the book. It's obvious the book is a New Zealand book, with a variety of natives included within the pages. There's also introduced species, and some exotic species too, helping to open up the world to our younger readers.
The design is spot on - each page features clear descriptions, perfectly pitched for primary school, with wonderful illustrative artwork. It's not cluttered, with plenty of negative space to ensure each fact and illustration is not overwhelmed. The facts are well-researched and Barraud's love of the natural world shines through. This book is fascinating and has so much potential. It will be a valuable resource within any school and one that will amaze and delight any child.
Tasting With Your Feet is an informative and beautiful non-fiction book detailing our world in a highly original way.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Potton & Burton