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Omnibird: An Avian Investigator's Handbook
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. Once you recognize the Omnibird, you’ll see the remarkable in any bird. You’ll be expert at finding extraordinary things around you, just by looking.
Omnibird describes 12 common birds from habitats around the world—eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. You will explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, meet the tiny creatures that live on birds, and find the fascinating in eggs, bird poop, feathers, and flight patterns.
Now you’re an Omnibird expert, you’ll look at every bird in new ways every day.
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. Once you recognize the Omnibird, you’ll see the remarkable in any bird. You’ll be expert at finding extraordinary things around you, just by looking.
Omnibird describes 12 common birds from habitats around the world—eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. You will explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, meet the tiny creatures that live on birds, and find the fascinating in eggs, bird poop, feathers, and flight patterns.
Now you’re an Omnibird expert, you’ll look at every bird in new ways every day.
96 pages, Hardcover
Published October 7, 2025
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 20, 2026
This book is fascinating! I don’t read much nonfiction but I love birds and Giselle Clarkson makes the information so accessible. Her illustrations are wonderful too and I love her humorous touches.
July 31, 2025
I don’t often find non-fiction books that are both informative and entertaining, but Omnibird strikes a perfect balance between the two. This book would be an excellent addition to any home, library or school - especially for those with curious children. Ideal audience is probably grades 3-5 as it’s a bit more in-depth than my 7-year-old could fully grasp at this time. It would also make a great reference for younger children that are curious about only certain aspects of birds. There was so much content, it’s hard to believe this is a children’s book. From scientific terminology for bird classifications to fully detailed inner and outer bird anatomy. The examples of different bird types, their wings and related birds were also so well done. Any book that includes “murmurations” gets an ‘A’ in my book.
The illustrations are gorgeous. Truly. Each bird was so detailed and colorful and the labels were informative but often funny. I don’t think you can fully digest all of the content in one reading. This would be an excellent book to use for a school project or lesson on birds and could be used in many different ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gecko Press for the eARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.
The illustrations are gorgeous. Truly. Each bird was so detailed and colorful and the labels were informative but often funny. I don’t think you can fully digest all of the content in one reading. This would be an excellent book to use for a school project or lesson on birds and could be used in many different ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gecko Press for the eARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.
August 6, 2025
If you’ve been following my reviews for long or you’ve spent any amount of time with me, you probably already know that I’m a sucker for a good bird book!
This is easily one of the best bird books I’ve ever read! It is funny, informative and absolutely delightful to read. It’s structured in a way that is so fun and easy to follow.
This book would be great for all young people and any adults that enjoy birding or learning about the natural world. It would also be an amazing addition to any bird unit study! Accessible for children, but also robust enough to give adults new information. This illustrations are also brilliant!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this delightful book! Can’t wait to add a paper copy to our home library as soon as it comes out!
This is easily one of the best bird books I’ve ever read! It is funny, informative and absolutely delightful to read. It’s structured in a way that is so fun and easy to follow.
This book would be great for all young people and any adults that enjoy birding or learning about the natural world. It would also be an amazing addition to any bird unit study! Accessible for children, but also robust enough to give adults new information. This illustrations are also brilliant!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this delightful book! Can’t wait to add a paper copy to our home library as soon as it comes out!
October 3, 2025
Omnibird is ultimately a guide on investigating the amazing bird life around you in a multitude of ways, and to remind you how incredible all birds are.
Full colour illustrations on every page help show you how to be a bird sleuth, and determine what birds are around you, above you, or have left clues for you to follow. Cross the science of bird study – Ornithology, with bird watching or observing birds around you, and you have Omnibird.
Full of information about all types of birds, whether in your backyard, or extraordinary birds you’ve never heard of, this hardback guide will make your jaw drop one moment and laugh out loud the next.
From bills to beaks, plumes and feet, you will learn, ‘What makes a bird a bird.’ ‘New birds and old birds’, and nests or night birds, are all part of this fascinating study of everything avian.
Learn about starlings and seabirds, corvids and chickens and many birds in between. Learn how to pick up a chicken, how to help a frightened bird escape from inside, and see the world from a bird’s point of view.
Did you know that some birds have more neck bones than a giraffe, or when male turkeys are showing off, they can change the shape and colour of their face? We might call someone a bird-brain if they’re being silly, but can you make a nest with only your mouth, or turn off half your brain to get some sleep – while you’re still flying?
Think you know birds? Omnibird will delight and surprise you. I laughed out loud throughout this large format, full colour, hardback book, as Giselle Clarkson’s signature cartoon style captures birds in all their glory.
Just like her award winning book The Observologist, Omnibird is chocka full of illustrations and funny speech bubbles too.
I absolutely LOVE this book!
Full colour illustrations on every page help show you how to be a bird sleuth, and determine what birds are around you, above you, or have left clues for you to follow. Cross the science of bird study – Ornithology, with bird watching or observing birds around you, and you have Omnibird.
Full of information about all types of birds, whether in your backyard, or extraordinary birds you’ve never heard of, this hardback guide will make your jaw drop one moment and laugh out loud the next.
From bills to beaks, plumes and feet, you will learn, ‘What makes a bird a bird.’ ‘New birds and old birds’, and nests or night birds, are all part of this fascinating study of everything avian.
Learn about starlings and seabirds, corvids and chickens and many birds in between. Learn how to pick up a chicken, how to help a frightened bird escape from inside, and see the world from a bird’s point of view.
Did you know that some birds have more neck bones than a giraffe, or when male turkeys are showing off, they can change the shape and colour of their face? We might call someone a bird-brain if they’re being silly, but can you make a nest with only your mouth, or turn off half your brain to get some sleep – while you’re still flying?
Think you know birds? Omnibird will delight and surprise you. I laughed out loud throughout this large format, full colour, hardback book, as Giselle Clarkson’s signature cartoon style captures birds in all their glory.
Just like her award winning book The Observologist, Omnibird is chocka full of illustrations and funny speech bubbles too.
I absolutely LOVE this book!
September 1, 2025
Omnibird is a fantastic introductory birding book. It’s packed with illustrations and practical tips—everything from how to identify birds by wing shape and other features, to what to do if one accidentally flies into your house. In many ways, it feels like an “everything you need to know” guide to birds.
The illustrations are especially lovely, and honestly, they could almost stand alone. That said, the additional text provides helpful explanations and context. The tone is light and fun, with plenty of little jokes sprinkled throughout, making it a pleasure to read.
I’d especially recommend this book to people who are interested in birds but don’t necessarily want to head out with binoculars every weekend. It’s informative, charming, and easy to enjoy.
The illustrations are especially lovely, and honestly, they could almost stand alone. That said, the additional text provides helpful explanations and context. The tone is light and fun, with plenty of little jokes sprinkled throughout, making it a pleasure to read.
I’d especially recommend this book to people who are interested in birds but don’t necessarily want to head out with binoculars every weekend. It’s informative, charming, and easy to enjoy.
December 27, 2025
Omnibird is an absolutely fantastic overview of all things bird. With a humorous tone that explains everything from bill vs. beak to the hole the eggs come out of to flight to to to... Any question I can think of is address in this fun nonfiction, oversized children's book, even questions like, "Could you ride an ostrich?" (Not technically impossible, but also not a realistic expectation.) The colorful two-page spreads with chunked text and bold titles for each subject encourage exploration. You could certainly read this cover to cover, but it is more suited to jumping around and flipping through. Young readers can engage with the different features at whatever level fits them. Omnibird is excellent for nature-minded or curious kiddos.
July 14, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given,
and my opinions are my own.
This would be an amazing book for anyone interested in birds, especially upper elementary or middle school children. I could easily see this being adapted to classroom use, and depending on the background of the author, developing a lesson plan book to complement this. Teachers are always looking for different ways to teach their subjects; this would work wonderfully.
I would definitely recommend this book, not only as a classroom supplement, but as a gift to any person interested in birds. It is a wonderful book that any bird watcher will love.❤️
and my opinions are my own.
This would be an amazing book for anyone interested in birds, especially upper elementary or middle school children. I could easily see this being adapted to classroom use, and depending on the background of the author, developing a lesson plan book to complement this. Teachers are always looking for different ways to teach their subjects; this would work wonderfully.
I would definitely recommend this book, not only as a classroom supplement, but as a gift to any person interested in birds. It is a wonderful book that any bird watcher will love.❤️
December 22, 2025
Saw this in passing in a bookstore display and the layout, drawings, and delivery looked like a great crash course of birding.
And it is exactly that. The Omnibird is the “universal bird” and is a fitting title.
A quick read with the ease and wonder of a kids book but the learnings and thoughtfulness expected of something more “sophisticated”.
It explores the general being and doing of birds before ripping into 18 whimsical studies of different bird groups.
A spirit of wonder and intrigue is infectious from the well placed drawings, childish jokes, and factual quips.
And it is exactly that. The Omnibird is the “universal bird” and is a fitting title.
A quick read with the ease and wonder of a kids book but the learnings and thoughtfulness expected of something more “sophisticated”.
It explores the general being and doing of birds before ripping into 18 whimsical studies of different bird groups.
A spirit of wonder and intrigue is infectious from the well placed drawings, childish jokes, and factual quips.
March 24, 2026
Okay this book was so neat and really really well done! Super excited about the fact that the information was put together out in a fashion that made it easy to follow along with and not get bored! I learned a lot about all kinds of birds in my time flipping through and reading through it with my 7 year old! She’s my kid that LOVES any good book she can gain some facts from! Her ability to retain knowledge surpasses mine immensely! So we dive into books like this happily! Keeps her content and I get to increase my knowledge right along with her! The illustrations were awesome and I definitely laughed multiple times! We love a little humor mixed in with our learning in this house so it was enjoyed by us! Have a bird lover? Don’t pass this one up to get on your shelf!
November 5, 2025
ARC review.
This jam-packed guide to bird biology is a fantastic resource, delivering high volume information in an easy-to-read format. While the book may be heavier on text, its clarity, combined with fun and informative illustrations and diagrams, ensures that complex concepts are easily absorbed. It is an excellent book for anyone seeking a comprehensive and enjoyable overview of ornithology.
This jam-packed guide to bird biology is a fantastic resource, delivering high volume information in an easy-to-read format. While the book may be heavier on text, its clarity, combined with fun and informative illustrations and diagrams, ensures that complex concepts are easily absorbed. It is an excellent book for anyone seeking a comprehensive and enjoyable overview of ornithology.
July 24, 2025
Omnibird: An Avian Investigator's Handbook (Hardcover)
by Giselle Clarkson
A great book for a school library or as addendum to the science classroom. The book is informative, and has bright pictures. The humor and dialog of the book will interest children. It contains various facts from the mondain to the very specific about many bird species and their adaptations to habitat and human control.
by Giselle Clarkson
A great book for a school library or as addendum to the science classroom. The book is informative, and has bright pictures. The humor and dialog of the book will interest children. It contains various facts from the mondain to the very specific about many bird species and their adaptations to habitat and human control.
September 30, 2025
This is an excellent book for kids. Bird watching is a skill that really helps occupy time on a car ride or sitting idle outside. This book breaks down how to identify birds by their characteristics in fun way with cute thought bubbles from all the birds on the page. This is a great book for a kid and a kid at heart to learn about birds and how to bird watch.
November 20, 2025
Original and fascinating look at the lives of birds, with local Kiwi content welcome to see. A large format hardback, it will find a place on all natural history lover's shelves, whether adult or child. Adds to your bird knowledge exponentially - I have been a birder for 35 years and even I didn't know some of the gems of facts. Science at its best.
November 19, 2025
Show me a kid who is excited about birds, and I will hand them this book. Really the illustrations are the best, and I was impressed with the topics and subjects they had about birds. Was clever and cool looking.
March 4, 2026
Great book to introduce everything about birds. Lots of great vocab and funny pictures. Highly recommend for new birders
October 1, 2025
What a fantastic book! As an ecologist and evolutionary biologist by training ("but in herpetology," she whispers), I can safely say this book will be a huge hit with scientists and the general public alike, especially those with children/older kids, but even for adults. I had a ton of fun reading this book.
In addition to the primary focus on bird identification, some details I loved:
* Illustrations: style is nature-journal inspired, which I love. They are true to life with a lot of detail, but still casual and fun.
* Ecology & evolution content: the focus of the book is on identifying various types of birds, and while a lot of that involves morphological features, there's also a good bit of avian ecology shown here. Plus some important evolution tidbits (birds are living theropod dinosaurs!).
* Nomenclature: explanation of the difference between common names (and the perils of common names causing confusion!) and scientific names (Latin binomial).
* A few fun bits that will make the ornithologists chuckle (I know this because I have a bunch of ornithologist friends) -- namely, what you can do with all this bird knowledge (impress friends & family, obviously!) and various investigative strategies in the field.
I recommend this book for kids and adults, but the prime target age group is probably upper elementary through middle school or honestly even high school. I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone I know with kids.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.
In addition to the primary focus on bird identification, some details I loved:
* Illustrations: style is nature-journal inspired, which I love. They are true to life with a lot of detail, but still casual and fun.
* Ecology & evolution content: the focus of the book is on identifying various types of birds, and while a lot of that involves morphological features, there's also a good bit of avian ecology shown here. Plus some important evolution tidbits (birds are living theropod dinosaurs!).
* Nomenclature: explanation of the difference between common names (and the perils of common names causing confusion!) and scientific names (Latin binomial).
* A few fun bits that will make the ornithologists chuckle (I know this because I have a bunch of ornithologist friends) -- namely, what you can do with all this bird knowledge (impress friends & family, obviously!) and various investigative strategies in the field.
I recommend this book for kids and adults, but the prime target age group is probably upper elementary through middle school or honestly even high school. I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone I know with kids.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews