It is no small compliment that for me if I could only have one non-fiction book in the house it would be The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson.
It is my go to for anyone buying a child a gift who is browsing in store, and a treasured pukapuka (book) in my own home with my 4 year old who is obsessed with getting outside and exploring nature.
Giselle Clarkson has got three incredible books that I adore with her unique mixture of her gorgeous illustrations and engaging material about the natural world around us - including The Observologist, the brand new Pocket Observology Field Guide, and Omnibird. All three are absolutely incredible boooks, published by the wonderful humans at Gecko Press, and will forever be a firm favourite for me and my whānau.
Here's why you should have them all in your house too!
The Observologist
About The Observologist:
The Observologist puts over 100 small creatures and features of the natural world under the microscope, piquing our curiosity with only the most interesting facts. Subjects range from slugs, ants, and seeds, fungi and flies through to bees and bird poop.
But this is no everyday catalogue of creatures. It is an antidote to boredom, an invitation out of the digital world and screentime, an encouragement to observe our environment, with care and curiosity, wherever we are.
Facts combine with comics, detailed illustrations, science, and funny stories in this unique, warm, and fascinating account of the small things all around us. Graphic and comic illustrations with funny talking insects make this a playful and informative book for 7- to 11-year-olds and one to be treasured in the classroom.
My thoughts:
The Observologist was my introduction to Giselle Clarkson's incredible mahi and since we got our own copy I've been recommending it to almost everyone since. I love it's amazing diagrams and the mixture of quirky humour with really interesting information about the tiny little places where nature hides around us, e.g. behind the curtain! Me and my girl love using it e.g. after finding a slater outside we'll go in and find it in our book and learn more!
This book is such a great, playful invitation for tamariki and adults to engage with the world around them - to get curious, ask questions, and look a little more closely. Even better, Gecko Press have a Observologist Final Exam that kids can take to become 'fully qualified' Observologists!
Pocket Observology: A Field Guide
About Pocket Observology:
Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature.
This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with your surroundings through careful observation. Use it to distinguish whether you've found a bee or a wasp, a centipede or a millipede, a moth or a butterfly. Compare shapes of seeds, leaves, and feathers to deduce their origin.
My thoughts:
I'll be honest - I thought this would just be a miniature version of The Observologist and thus not one we would be needing. Oh how wrong I was. This includes the features that make The Observologist so amazing, like the combination of fascinating facts and illustrations, but it is structured completely differently - designed to come out and about on adventures and help you on the spot and in the field. It may overlap in some areas but I absolutely see us needing both.
My favourite feature of the pocket field guide are the practical things included on it's covers - like the built in measurement guide for being able to make careful observations of what you come across, and even a slime-proof snail racing track (how did Giselle know that Snail Racing was a frequent past time of childhood Lizzy?).
Omnibird
About Omnibird:
Investigating a bird is like solving a puzzle. To gather all the pieces, you look for clues: meet the omnibird.
An omnibird shares the basics of all birdlife: it was born from an egg, has feathers, two legs, a beak and gizzard, perhaps a premium feature like spurs or a curuncle. Knowing the omnibird gives you a case file of information to investigate any bird. You’ll be expert at finding extraordinary things around you, just by looking.
Omnibird investigates 18 common birds from habitats around the world—eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. Explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, find the fascinating in bird calls, bird poop, feathers, and flight patterns.
My Thoughts:
Omnibird is another incredible feat of non-fiction children's writing and illustrating. Even adults will learn a lot from this guide, and because it's from a Kiwi author many of our local native and introduced birds are including it making it ideal for little kiwi scientists who want to learn more about what makes a bird a bird, and what makes that bird different to another one.
Favourite pages include the one on feral pigeons (I love them), the tips and tricks for ushering a bird outdoors (handy when every now and again one comes book shopping here!), and the guide to bird footprints.
I would love to hear from anyone else who is obsessed with these gorgeous books, or if you are now planning to pick one up!
Lizzy makes sure the Book Hero bookstore is an integral part of our local Hobsonville community, welcoming readers of all ages with a genuine kindness and love of books. The Fantastic Mr Fox ignited her passion for books as a child, and now she’s read thousands of books and loves matching the right book to the right reader - both in our bookstore and online. When she’s not recommending her next favourite read, she’s enjoying life’s small joys and adding to a home library so large her husband Edd is constructing a massive bookshelf to try and keep up.