Smell is the sense most likely to enter a children’s book before anyone invites it. A flower can stop a bull, one whiff can launch a mystery, and a dog’s nose can find what a roomful of people missed. Then there are the odors that arrive with their own punch line: sneakers, skunks, garbage, unwashed costumes, and the occasional monster-shaped cloud.
Drawing from Bookroo’s collection of books about smells and odors, our editors chose fifteen favorites that use the nose for science, comedy, memory, problem-solving, and one very important bath. Start with the fixed shortlist below, then browse sturdy first books, scent-filled picture books, and longer reads for children ready to investigate how animals, cities, and exceptionally talented noses work.
While the other bulls butt heads, Ferdinand sits quietly beneath his cork tree and smells the flowers.
A dog detective sniffs out missing books. Can she solve the mystery?
One mysterious household odor sends an endlessly curious child through questions, hypotheses, and a great many experiments.
A piglet seeks perfection in Paris but discovers the true scent of home.
Discover the science of smell through a baby's curious nose.
Elliot's quest to find a mysterious smell leads to a surprising discovery about hygiene.
Discover the hidden world of animals through the power of smell.
Discover the world's smelliest animals and their astonishing abilities.
A foul odor threatens the fridge. Can Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast solve the mystery?
A group of princesses and heroes work together to defeat a stinky monster that is terrorizing the land.
A boy named Stink Moody goes on a field trip to a science museum and discovers his incredible sense of smell.
In the hot summer of 1858, the Thames smells so terrible that London can no longer ignore what is flowing through its city.
A bunny shares spring's stinky scents with a grumpy bear.
Discover the surprising secrets and quirks of noses.
A girl with a super nose uncovers a secret cake recipe amidst family rivalry.
First noses, familiar scents, scratch-and-sniff surprises, and sturdy introductions to how smelling works. Ages 0–5.
Explore tails with touch-and-feel surprises and learn about animals.
A mischievous toddler explores the five senses in a day full of discovery.
Join Llama Llama in a kitchen adventure with scents to discover.
Explore chores with touch-and-feel fun, sparking curiosity and learning in little helpers.
Babies explore the world through smell.
Sniff out hidden friends in a playful hide-and-seek adventure.
Perfume, flowers, animal defenses, mystery stenches, hygiene, and gleefully gross read-alouds for ages 3–9.
Dinosaurs bake cookies with delightful scents. What's their secret recipe?
A stinkbug can't stink. Can he find his true talent?
A fox must prove she's more than her nickname.
Can Bill the dog outwit Great Aunt Bleach and keep his smelly lifestyle?
A mischievous puppy sniffs through town, leaving clues. What is he searching for?
Explore how your senses work and why a tongue is best for pickle tasting.
Join a Halloween adventure filled with spooky treats and mysterious scents.
Two sibling dogs' picnic adventure leads to a smelly surprise.
Discover the world's stinkiest secrets, from skunk sprays to popcorn-scented leopard urine.
A rescue dog sniffs out a mysterious smell in his neighborhood.
Two friends hunt a smelly monster in the woods. Is it real or just a myth?
A pup's nose leads him to a lost skunk. Can he reunite the family?
Super-sniffers, science museums, magical recipes, and comic mysteries for independent readers ages 5–12.
Curious aliens hunt Earth's smelliest scents for their planet. What will they discover?
A magical soup recipe goes awry, threatening a holiday celebration.
A magical mishap threatens Saralee's Purim plans. Can she save the day?
Alfie's stinky feet threaten Hound Hotel's reputation. Can he outsmell a fishy Labrador?
A boy raised as a dog faces a new life with dog-hating relatives.
