Tag Giselle Clarkson

The Observologist

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The Observologist
Giselle Clarkson
Gecko Press

I learned a new term to describe my partner from the first page of this playful book. He’s an observologist, someone who, as Giselle Clarkson says herein is a person ‘who makes scientific expeditions every day’ … ‘they notice interesting details in the world around them’ … and are ‘expert at finding tiny creatures, plants and fungi.’ Not a day goes by when he doesn’t share some of his observations when we’re out walking, no matter where that is; it’s not surprising we make such frequent stops. And he certainly doesn’t feel embarrassed about turning over large stones or lumps of wood.
The book has five main sections, the first being concerned with the principles and practice of observology that include such important topics as taxonomy and anatomy.

We then visit four places the author suggests are ideal for observological expeditions: a damp corner, a pavement, a weedy patch and behind the curtains.
In the damp patch you’ll likely find the likes of slugs, snails, centipedes and millipedes and my favourite, woodlouse. This small crustacean has many other names including chuggie pigs, used by most children in schools where I mainly live, in Gloucestershire.

In the pavement section you can explore the world of ants, bird poo, lichen,

minibeast droppings and eggs and learn all about worms. (These annelids have three spreads devoted to them.)
The weedy patch is where you will encounter bees and wasps, cicadas and caterpillars, seeds and surface tension. While, behind the curtain there may lurk cockroaches – yuck! – flies, spiders and moths.

There are several useful ‘how to’ pages, one such is ‘how to get a fly to go outside (at night)’, another is ‘how to relocate a spider’ – I’ve done this one many times.
This smashing book is absolutely brimming over with information, whimsical details -verbal and visual. I envisage countless children completing the ‘required course of study’ and receiving the observologist qualification’ award on the penultimate spread. I wonder if they will all have noticed the 13 spider mites running through the book though.

The Tiny Woman’s Coat

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The Tiny Woman’s Coat
Joy Cowley and Giselle Clarkson
Gecko Press

This is a heart-warming autumnal tale of need and kindness.

A tiny woman shivering in the chilly wind wants a coat, a coat she resolves to make herself. There might be something of a problem though, for she lacks the necessary tools and materials with which to do the job.

However, happily for her, there are plenty of offers from things natural. The autumn trees provide leaves – ‘Rustle, rustle, rustle.’ Then a grey goose offers its beak in lieu of scissors and ‘Snip, snip, snip’ the leaves are cut into a body and sleeves.

A porcupine’s generosity takes the form of one of its quills

but then this needs to be threaded with something suitable.

A friendly horse provides the thread and then all that’s needed is a means of fastening the garment. The three buttons are seeds given by the ‘wild wet weeds’ and finally hurrah! Out to face the storm, ‘snug as a bug in a rug’ goes the tiny woman clad in her new warm coat of kindness.

Simply constructed and written, Joy Cowley’s folksy story is sheer delight to share and also, with its repeat patterned text, ideal for beginning readers. sheer delight too, and the perfect complement for the text, are Giselle Clarkson’s detailed illustrations with their gentle humour, autumnal hues and close observation of the natural world.

The Gobbledegook Book

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The Gobbledegook Book
Joy Cowley illustrated by Giselle Clarkson
Gecko Press

This is an a smashing anthology that brings together twenty of New Zealand author Joy Cowley’s much-loved stories, poems and nonsense rhymes, newly illustrated by Giselle Clarkson whose witty, energetic art is full of fun – a kind of visual poetry.

Open the book anywhere and you’ll find something to love be it the bizarre Nicketty-Nacketty, Noo-Noo-Noo that begins thus;
‘There once was an ogre called Gobbler Magoo / who lived in a swamp where the wild weeds grew. Nicketty-naketty, noo-noo-noo.’

It continues in this sing-song fashion for a further 13 verses, each spread with a splendid illustration.

Or perhaps The Tiny Woman’s Coat about an old woman in need of a coat who is helped by the kindly animals she encounters will tickle your fancy: I love the swirl of rustling autumn leaves and the happy snug-as-a-bug final scene.

How many young listeners will know what a singlet is but they surely will having encountered Uncle Andy and his multi-purpose garment.’Uncle Andy bought the singlet / from an army surplus store. It was the only upper garment / Uncle Andy ever wore. That’s as maybe but it also doubles as a foot warmer, a carrying pouch, a wire substitute, a fire extinguisher and a tea towel. This item has one snag though but to discover what, you’ll need to get your hands on a copy of the book for book yourself.

You’ll also meet several felines including Greedy Cat,

Grandma who owns not spectacles but Goggly Gookers and gives other crazy answers to children’s questions, an exploding pumpkin

and The Jumbaroo that gets a pain in its woggly and more.

Everything about this book is perfect. For those who love to read aloud and those who listen, it’s an absolute cracker: utter zany joyfulness – a treasure for family and school collections. Buy it to keep and buy it to give.

Read it here, read it there, read it pretty much anywhere.