Dogs vs. Humans - by Stephanie Gibeault (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In showdown of the senses, who do you think would win, dog or human? That is the question being explored in this fun, sense-by-sense look at the ways dogs perceive the world and how it compares to the way we humans do. Over the course of six rounds, the sensory abilities of dogs and humans are playfully pitted against one another, with a final tally provided at the end of each section. (For those who are counting, the last round is a bonus that explores the possibility that dogs have extra senses that we do not. And spoiler alert: they don't--or at least not ones scientists have discovered yet.) The competition comes to a sense-sational conclusion that will please curious readers of both species. (It's a tie.) For each sense, the science behind our differences is clearly explained and often accompanied by an illustration for further clarity. (See for e.g., Who Sees it Better? and Who Smells it Better?) And for added context, the dogs' senses are often explained in evolutionary terms. For instance, when it comes to the sense of touch, a dog's nose can actually feel the body heat of another animal from as far as 1.5 m (5 ft.) away -- about the length of a park bench. Stephanie explains that this ability probably helped dogs' wolf ancestors find the warm bodies of hidden prey when they were hunting. Includes a glossary."--

Book Synopsis

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 for ages 6 to 9 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.

Review Quotes

"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."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"

[A] romp of a book ... While dog-lovers will be especially enthusiastic, this is a broadly appealing dive into a deeper understanding of the five senses."

-- "Booklist"

"A tasty morsel for dog owners and dog lovers."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"