THE FIVE SENSES

Using freely drawn shapes, a few words of commentary, blinding colors and a playful postmodern sensibility, Tullet crafts visual extravaganzas in celebration of the five senses—plus one. Each quarto page offers a bright surprise, from optical illusions to a glued-on reflective square; from a page of pasta shapes to fanciful, semiabstract figures laughing, embracing, tickling and grinning toothily; from a Braille alphabet to specks of “ant poo” opposite a huge blob of “elephant poo,” separated by a die-cut nose that flips back and forth. Closing with pages of arrows, spirals and blotches evoking a mysterious sixth sense—imagination, perhaps?—this conveys a stimulating invitation to take fresh stock of everyday sights, sounds and the rest. (Picture book. 7-10)