Inspired as much by her own senses as by the scratch-and-sniff craze many of us likely also remember from our childhood years, author Margaret Hyde found the perfect union for the two muses in her best friend and illustrating collaborator Amanda Giacomini's rescue dog, Mo. In Mo Smells Red: A Scentsational Journey, the pair explore the world of senses through the endlessly curious canine, who "sees" the world around him with his nose.

Hyde tells Mo's story in graceful, Zen-simple prose even the youngest reader can follow, while Giacomini mirrors the pup's sensory journey through monochromatic illustrations (dogs, after all, only see in black and white) accented with vivid splashes of red.

As kids flip through the book, they can also go everywhere Mo's nose goes, thanks to a series of "scent pouches" filled with natural, non-allergenic essential oils. No scratching here, though: All it takes is one press to release the delectable red smells Mo encounters along his journey: ripe strawberries, fresh roses, a crackling fire, and love (which in this case smells like a box of chocolates).

The hardcover first edition of Mo Smells Red is $17.95 from the Mo's Nose Store, with a portion of all proceeds going toward the Best Friends Animal Society.