Nighttime. Soft darkness envelopes all. This is the time of the owl, the bat, the fox. This is the time of crickets going crickee crickee. Frogs join the chorus- ribbit, ribbit. This isn’t a time to fear, no, not at all. The authors introduce readers to a variety of nocturnal creatures from various habitats. Each beastie has a uniquely enhanced sense. There are exercises for readers to practice enhancing our own senses.

First up is Great Horned Owl with her big yellow eyes. Those eyes can detect the merest twitch of a mouse’s tail, and her flight is silent as she strikes. Next comes the little Spring Peeper. This teensy frog has outstanding hearing!  Deer come after. I had no clue they ‘talked’ via scents. Gila Monster teaches us how to use taste to explore the environment. Spider teaches the finer points of touch, while Fox puts proprioception and kinesthetics on show. There’s a chapter devoted to how some animals are basically living compasses, with innate knowing of magnetic north. At the end is a resource section, and a glossary.

I learned quite a bit from this book! I had no idea owls had more rods than cones in their eyes, giving them a greater ability to process things in black, white, grey, and to detect those miniscule movements in the grass. Or that deer communicated via various scents they create. Spiders can pick up the faintest vibrations, and tell a difference between food and foe.

My cubs and I enjoyed trying the exercises, with varying results. With my one eye, it didn’t take much to get the disappearing head trick going. Funny that it might but have been the cause of seeing ‘headless’ horsemen. Trying the scent and taste experiments were fun. The touch one were too much for me, trying to surpass what is natural for me. Losing my sight, and becoming legally, if not completely, blind heightened my sense of touch.

This is a perfect book for those who are nature-lovers!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.