Genius Noses: A Curious Animal Compendium

"Five stars out of five." –NY Journal of Books

A Bank Street Best Book of the Year, 2024
A Eureka! Nonfiction honor book

An illustrated collection about animal noses and their amazing functions! Early STEM has never been more fun. Everything kids ever wanted to know about animal noses around the world!

This special collection of animals takes us around the globe and amazes us at the curious diversity of nature. Whether it’s the aardvark, the elephant, the pig, or the saiga antelope— they all have wonderful noses. In addition to a wide array of functions, noses tell us a lot about animal habits and habitats.

Author Lena Anlauf has compiled the most exciting facts and stories about noses from the animal kingdom, while illustrator, Vitali Konstantinov, introduces us to the individual animals in impressive portraits—with wit and attention to detail.

Which animal can smell underwater? Which one uses their nose as a snorkel? What can animals do with their noses besides smell? Readers will find out this and more in this entertaining collection filled with surprising and unusual facts.

“The book gives fascinating insights into the world of animal noses. Whether small, large, round or star-shaped, you learn a lot of new things here. The wonderful world of noses is clearly explained with beautiful illustrations.” –Pascal Marty, Zoo Zurich

Lena Anlauf was born in the Ruhr region of Germany. She studied bibliography and philosophy in Mainz and Leiden and completed a postgraduate course in the pedagogy of reading and literature as well as a remote course on children’s and young adult literature at the STUBE in Vienna. Today she lives in Marburg, works as editorial director and editor at the Kunstanstifter Verlag, researches historical picture books, works on her own book projects, and puts on readings and workshops for children.

Vitali Konstantinov was born in Ukraine. He studied architecture and art and has taught illustration courses at universities in several countries as well as numerous workshops for children. His work has been exhibited extensively, has received many prizes, and has been published in forty different countries; he has been nominated for the German Children’s Literature Award. Today Vitali works as a freelance illustrator and author and lives in Marburg. He drew the illustrations for his Genius Animals series with drawing ink and colored pencil on watercolor paper. 

Marshall Yarbrough is a writer, translator, and musician. He has translated a number of books for NorthSouth. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughter.