Probably not the most interesting, but Romanek not only explains, in very brief ways, how our traditional five senses work, both individually and in concert, she introduces two others (plus some animal senses), mentions some surprising research results, and adds a set of revealing, low-tech “You Try It” activities for hands-on readers. Detailed enough to include the tongue’s fifth flavor, “umami,” and to give a name to that tendency to feel a second itch after scratching a first (“mitempfindungen,” in case you wanted to know), this makes a good bridge between such primers as Aliki’s My Five Senses (1989) and more systematic treatments. Cowles’s cartoon illustrations and diagrams provide more decoration than additional information. (index) (Nonfiction. 7-9)
