The Observologist (Giselle Clarkson, Gecko)

An observologist is someone who makes scientific expeditions every day and notices interesting details in the world around them. This is the first thing we learn in The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson, a charming new nonfiction book for budding natural scientists. This playful catalogue combines detailed illustrations and comics with educational information and surprising stories about over 100 different creatures, encouraging those who read it to take a moment to consider the tiniest things that live among us. As we journey through nature uncovering extraordinary facts about the most ordinary of creepy-crawlies, we move from the slugs and snails hiding in a damp corner to the busy bees working hard in a weedy patch and the common house-dwellers you can discover behind your bedroom curtains. There are details about how to relocate moths and spiders safely, unveil the trickiest of camouflaged critters, and even sneak up on a bug if need be. The book explains taxonomy and classification in an engaging and age-appropriate way and concludes with a final exam, a certificate for newly crowned observologists, and an impressively long index. This book is the ultimate boredom-buster and a wholesome antidote to the digital world, with plenty of warmth and humour ideal for curious young people aged 7–12. The Observologist teaches young readers to embrace curiosity, show patience and care for their environment in unexpected ways.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is a librarian, author and the current vice president of CBCA VIC Branch. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews