Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

Imprint: Gecko Press

October 2025

ISBN13:9798765670514

Australia RRP:$37.99

New Zealand RRP:$44.99

Have you seen a bird today? Probably, unless you’re reading this in bed. Did you truly look at the bird? To open your ornithological eyes and ears, meet the Omnibird.

An Omnibird contains the essential birdiness of every bird—it was born from an egg, has feathers, two legs, a beak and gizzard, perhaps some premium features like spurs or a curuncle. 

Unless you have not been paying attention, you will know that I’m a bird nerd. I get excited spotting a bird I don’t normally see on a daily basis. Yesterday it was seeing a curlew, which I’ve seen before but not here in Redcliffe so that was fun and one to add to my log. Sometimes it’s as exciting as the pheasant coucal or tawny frogmouth occasionally visiting, but all in all, I just like them.

So when this wildly different book arrived, complete with some wee binoculars (very cute!), I was delighted. And what a pleasure it has been to trawl through it, not only giggling over some of the wording, headings and facts but revelling in the information provided.

This is not just nomenclature and anatomy but ‘How to usher a bird outside’ and ‘Extraordinary Eggs’, ‘Defensive Barfing’ and the meaning of the terms precocial and altricial, pinions, crops and megapode.

Author Giselle, also gives the reader a closer indepth look at a dozen common birds of the world – many of which our readers will recognise such as corvids (crows and ravens), ducks, swans, gulls, chickens and feral pigeons [Note to our backyard locals, please ENOUGH of the endless dawn billing and cooing thanks!]. There is literally hours of browsing for any budding twitcher here and all of it both engaging and entertaining, both text and the humorous illustrations. The back matter includes an extensive index and offers up some interactivity with ‘If You Could Be Any Bird in the World…?’ – tough question!

My very first class ever was the one that I got into the very first Aussie Bird count, long before it was called that, when the Courier-Mail had this initiative to survey birds over a period of time [maybe a couple of weeks? it is over 30 years ago!]. My exuberant Year 5s were so keen. Some were townies, some were farm kids, some were in sheds on blocks – all sorts- but they all, to a one, loved coming in with their daily viewing report.

Since then I’ve noticed that many kiddos are very interested in birds so not only would this make an excellent addition to your collection but would make a superb gift for a mini-ornithologist in your circle. They can even learn to speak Chickenish. Get them all fired up for next year’s Bird Count or just spotting on a daily basis.

This is all round fabulous and I think one of my favourite non-fiction books this year, and it makes it to the Picture Book Month showcase because of it’s wonderful, highly illustrated pages. Don’t get in a flap – put it on your list now – it’s a fully fledged 5 🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦 rating for this gem.