Omnibird: The Avian Investigator’s Handbook

Omnibird means the universal bird and this wonderful guide book is for young birders around the world. Rather than focusing on identifying all the different species of bird this book encourages observers to recognise common features and behaviours of birds in order to discover what wider sort of bird they have come across. This means that anyone in any part of the world, town or country, garden or seaside, could pick this up and learn about the birds around them.

Giselle Clarkson has both written and illustrated 'Omnibird'. It is very similar in tone to her previous work 'The Observologist'. Her full colour pictures are bursting with character and the handwritten font and cheeky asides make it feel like she is sharing chatty secrets with the reader. Instead of learning which particular colour a particular bird is, the reader learns which feet do which jobs and which beaks eat which meals, how different nests are made and fun facts about common birds.

This guide is going to be perfect for particular kids. This will be pored over and treasured by those curious kids who like to learn little facts, who like to know the strange details of the world around them. More generally most kids will find some pages fun to look at or adults could choose sections to read aloud. It is clear that Clarkson loves the natural world, the affection she has for the birds radiates in her words and pictures.