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Review: Tastes Like Music

January 13, 2016January 3, 2018 Jane the Raincity Librarian Post a comment

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2016 is a weekly celebration of imaginative children’s nonfiction materials hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy.

I’ve only got one book to share this week (it’s been a bit of a crazy week!) but it’s a good one!

tastes

Title: Tastes Like Music : 17 Quirks of the Brain and Body
Author: Maria Birmingham / Illustrator:  Monika Melnychuk
Publisher: Owl Kids
Publication Date: 2014
Genre/Format: Nonfiction

My Two Cents: Sometimes getting books into the hands of sceptical young readers can take a bit of subterfuge on the part of the crafty, determined teacher or librarian. Last week I relied on the appeal of a video game to get a National Geographic book past the reluctant reader gates, and this week I’m relying on the almost universal childhood interest in all things weird to book talk this Red Cedar-award nominated nonfiction title.

Tastes Like Music is an ode to the human body, and in particular to individuals whose bodies function in unique and unusual ways. Author Maria Birmingham introduces a number of wacky and wonderful quirks of the human body, some of which children might be familiar with (sleepwalking, for example, or being double jointed), and other which are likely to be entirely unfamiliar (such as tetrachromacy, which is the ability to see the world in one hundred million colours, while the average person only sees about one million). Humorous illustrations help explain each condition, while information is presented in clear, easy to read paragraphs, ideal for children who may be intimidated by longer texts.

Tastes Like Music is significant too in that it is a very positive text – no one with these conditions is presented in any way as being a “weirdo” or a “freak”. The illustrations are diverse, with a wide range of individuals represented. In fact, the author herself is included as an example of an individual with an usual condition, as she has isolated congenital anosmia, and is entirely unable to smell. Individuals with these “quirks” are just like you and me, the text suggests, they just live their life in different ways because their bodies work in different ways.

I’m always delighted to celebrate Canadian literature, and not only is Tastes Like Music written by and published by Canadians, it is also in the running for a Red Cedar award for nonfiction in 2015-2016. If you aren’t familiar with the Red Cedar awards, they are children’s choice book awards in the Canadian province of British Columbia. You can find out more about the awards and this year’s nominees on their website, at https://www.redcedaraward.ca/

So let me know, what great nonfiction titles have you been exploring this week?

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About Jane

Jane is a tea-drinking Canadian picture book author with a rather sizeable cardigan collection.

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0 comments

  1. Linda Baie says:
    January 13, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    I can see why a reluctant reader might love this, Jane, but others, too. There is a fiction book that students have loved by Wendy Maas, A Mango-Shaped Space, about synesthesia. I imagine once you start talking about these ‘quirks’, students will share about their own special things. Thanks very much for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Jane Whittingham says:
      January 14, 2016 at 5:03 am

      That’s so true, sometimes it can be such a relief for kids to find out that people come in all sorts of variations, and that lots of us have quirks that make us who we are.

      Reply
  2. Kellee from Unleashing Readers (@kelleemoye) says:
    January 14, 2016 at 1:10 am

    And Noisy Paint Box is a great picture book companion to the information about synesthesia!

    Reply
    1. Jane Whittingham says:
      January 14, 2016 at 4:56 am

      So true!! I loved that picture book, and you’re right, it would tie in very nicely with this one.

      Reply
  3. Annette Bay Pimentel says:
    January 14, 2016 at 1:19 am

    A friend of mine, Jennifer Swanson, just published Brain Games with National Geographic. It’s advertised as being linked to the TV show, but the content is stand-alone. Sounds like it would be a great read-alike to this book.

    Reply
    1. Jane Whittingham says:
      January 14, 2016 at 4:58 am

      My in-laws are big fans of Brain Games, funnily enough. The human body is just so fascinating and at times inexplicable, and it’s so much fun being able to share that with kids!

      Reply
  4. Michele says:
    January 14, 2016 at 2:05 am

    I love those books that make you go “huh”. That you found a fact that was so new and out there!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Jane Whittingham says:
      January 14, 2016 at 5:01 am

      That’s one of the coolest things about being a teacher or a librarian, you’re always learning new things!

      Reply
  5. Crystal says:
    January 14, 2016 at 2:31 am

    This does look like one that could be interesting to many people. I want to read it now. 😉

    Reply
    1. Jane Whittingham says:
      January 14, 2016 at 5:00 am

      It’s a lot of fun, and the author includes little interviews with people with rare or unusual conditions, which makes them more relatable. It’s also pretty fun that the author has included herself in the book, too! It’s nice to get to know an author a bit better.

      Reply
  6. Kristina Aziz says:
    January 14, 2016 at 2:43 am

    LOVE the cover. Can’t wait to read it!

    Reply
  7. carriegelson says:
    January 14, 2016 at 6:00 am

    Love that you are highlighting the Red Cedar awards This one looks fascinating.

    Reply
    1. Jane Whittingham says:
      January 15, 2016 at 8:25 pm

      Hurray for Canadian content! Also I volunteer for the committee, so it’s a bit of promotion at the same time 🙂

      Reply
  8. Myra GB says:
    January 15, 2016 at 8:15 am

    It’s the first I’m hearing of this book – and it does look fabulous and a very interesting read. Thank you so much for highlighting it.

    Reply
    1. Jane Whittingham says:
      January 15, 2016 at 8:27 pm

      I’m really trying to read more Canadian content this year, I’m usually terrible about reading books from my own country, so you’ll probably being seeing a few new-to-everyone titles in the coming week! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Kellee from Unleashing Readers (@kelleemoye)Cancel reply

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Hey, there!

Jane Whittingham


Welcome to my blog! Here you’ll find musings about writing, book reviews, program ideas and other bits and bobs from my life as a book-loving author-librarian-mum.

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    • A GOOD DAY FOR DUCKS
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