Tastes Like Music ─ 17 Quirks of the Brain and Body

Humans may all look pretty much the same on the outside, but some people have unique conditions and amazing abilities! Whether it’s having no fingerprints at all (adermatoglyphia), hearing music every time you taste chocolate (synesthesia), or being able to see one hundred million colors (tetrachromacy), some conditions bring our understanding of the human body to another level entirely. An unparalleled tour of the hows and whys of these extraordinary human conditions, Tastes Like Music is accessible and playful. Each section presents an awe-inspiring snapshot of the biology behind one of 17 quirks, while short interviews with people affected by these conditions (including the author!) provide windows into real-life experiences. The book takes a balanced approach, highlighting the pros and cons of each condition and providing plenty of general facts about the human body. Readers will delight in the illustrations throughout and come away with a new appreciation for all the weird and wonderful things the human brain and body can do.

Grade: 6
Fountas & Pinnel: X
Lexile Measure: 1010L
Common Core State Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1,1a,1b,1c,1d,2,3,4,5,6

A longtime contributor to OWL and chickaDEE magazines, Maria Birmingham has written numerous features and recurring sections for both, as well as served as the managing editor of OWL. She lives in Brampton, Ontario. Illustrator Monika Melnychuk’s work has appeared in numerous publications. She lives in Toronto.