Huh? Who is this "Mo" and how can he smell red?Well. Mo is a dog--both a real one and also a fictional pooch inspired by the flesh-and-blood version. Illustrator Amanda Giacomini adopted the real Mo from a shelter. Her friend Margaret Hyde wrote a book starring Mo, and Amanda did the gorgeous ink brush artwork to accompany the text.
What's extra cool about this book is the "Press-2-Smell" technology. Special packets embedded within the pages release scents when you touch them, so you can smell what Mo smells. Luckily, this is fiction so you only get to smell nice things. Unlike a lot of the stuff my dog is typically found sniffing, if you know what I mean.
I adore the artwork in this book--the winsome puppy expressions, the soothing Eastern sensibility, the black/white/red color palette. I confess I didn't love the story, and it didn't resonate strongly with my children (ages 3 and 6). While they loved "pressing 2 smell," the text was a bit too oblique for them: "Red is velvety, sublimely scented, and sure to delight."
Still, the book is a fun conversation piece, with its heart in the right place. A portion of the proceeds from its sales will go to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to support its efforts to help homeless animals. The scent packets contain essential oils, the ink is soy-based, and the paper is recycled. At Mo's online shop, you can also check out the completely cute line of Mo T-shirts (for adults, kids, babies ... and dogs). The kid-sized one is strawberry-scented!
WIN IT: We have one copy of the book to award to a lucky reader of The Full Mommy (retail value $17.95). To enter, send an e-mail to winfullmommy (at) gmail (dot) com with "Mo Smells" in the subject line, by August 25, 2008. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.
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