How Animals Taste
The Science of Senses
Reading Level: 3
Interest Level: 2-5
The sense of taste helps animals determine what is delicious, and what is deadly. Animals have evolved a wide variety of taste preferences and abilities. For instance, an octopus has ten thousand taste buds on each one of its arms' suckers; a bison has a great knack for using taste to avoid toxic plants while grazing, and gorillas and chimps like sweet-tasting food. With interesting, easy-to-understand text and vivid pictures, this book explores the many ways animals use taste to perceive their world. The text is easily accessible, with informative sidebars and fact boxes to hold young readers' interest. Maps and diagrams stimulate curiosity, while a glossary helps build vocabulary. Readers will be fascinated comparing animals' sense of taste to their own.