It’s not often that a children’s book, or any book, offers a re-set regarding how we regard the world through our senses––so many distractions to contend with in these modern times. A new book, THE SENSES-TAKER, by artist and illustrator Julie Schachter, does just that, by following the journey of a young boy, Abel Adams, who uses numbers to safely evaluate the world around him. The tale follows his transition from being a compulsive counter of things, to experiencing feelings beyond the surface. A dream-like visitation by an elf-sized man, a self-described Senses-Taker, opens Abel’s eyes to what he's been missing. The miniature bureaucrat presents a treasure chest of drawers for almost every kind of sense, from SENSE OF DIRECTION, SENSE OF SMELL, SENSE OF HUMOR, to COMMON SENSE and NONSENSE.
This entertaining, humorous, and well-illustrated book, harks back to a former time of tree-lined Main Streets, doctors who make house-calls, a gay couple (in this case, two female doctors), a mailman bribing with dog biscuits and a small town's soda fountain. The book encourages a recharge we could all use. It's nice to be reminded, occasionally, of how to just take a breath and look around, smell the roses– cell/phones, laptops, emails and other links disabled. Maybe take some time out to enjoy a midnight moon, the flight of pillow feathers and magical birds circling, a disco shower of light, urging on Abel–and ourselves to make time for a sense of wonder.