Nerni Invents Clock Book Review

The Basics:

• For 0 to 4-years old
• 24 pages of colorful and whimsical illustrations
• Perfect for early reading

Geek Skills:

• Active Listening & Communication
• Reading
• Imagination

Theme & Narrative:

• A young gnome invents a friend with surprising results

Endorsements:

• Gamer Geek not applicable
• Parent Geek approved!
• Child Geek approved!

Overview

Nerni Invents Clock is a simple children’s story with whimsical art that depicts a young gnome inventor named Nerni. Nerni loves to invent things and eventually focuses her attention on inventing a clock to help her keep track of time. Not being satisfied with just any old clock, Nerni’s inventive natures compels her to improve her creation. By doing so, Nerni invents a clock that is a bit too smart for its own good.

The book itself is written in very simple language and with large lettering so as to make it easy to read. The illustrations are somewhat minimalistic but compliment the text of each page well, promoting the story and carrying it forward. The book itself is soft cover and put together very well with a solid spine and secure pages which will make it last just as long as any other library book you might get for your little geeks to read.

Prediction

I am skeptical about this book. I read it twice and didn’t find much in it. Then again, I’m in my thirties and read much more complex literature on any given day of the week. Clearly the book was never intended for adults or anyone over the ages of possibly 5.

When I pitched the book to my two oldest little geeks, they were excited to read the book but no more or less than any new book I would put in front of them. At the very least, the book would be enjoyed and then put in the family book pile. At most, it would be a hit and I would end up reading it every day of the week for the next month or so. My early impressions of Nerni had me leaning heavily towards exiling the little gnome to the book pile, but I refused to pass judgement on a book that was never meant for me. Never judge a book by its cover, as the old adage goes.

I would leave this one up to the experts and the target audience. If my three little geeks liked it and asked for it again the next day, I would consider the book a success. Otherwise, the book was nothing more than just another kids book.

And so, I sat my three little geeks down and opened the book to the first page.

Final Word

Reading has always been a great pleasure of mine. Sadly, the time I have available to sit and focus on recreational reading has been replaced with the time needed to read an endless stream of emails, technical documents, business proposals, and other career related information. This is why I am still not through the Harry Potter series and am only on book two of George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire books.

Put another way, my recreational reading has been reduced to short bursts of intense activity that results in little more than perhaps a chapter or two per month. Sad.

No matter how busy my day is, how tired my eyes might be, or how behind I am on other work, I always stop whatever I am doing to read to my little geeks. Reading to your children is exceedingly important and beneficial as it provides an enjoyable medium in which to communicate, share, grow, and learn from each other. My wife and I started reading to all our little geeks at a very early age and continue to read to them to this day. It is a special time were the business of the day is set aside and parent and child can refocus and re-balance while sharing a story.

Early reading also promotes literacy and a great deal of creativity, not to mention you make learning fun. The end result in my household is three little geeks, from age 7 to age 2, who like to get down on the floor with a stack of books and just look at them for hours. Or, in the case of my 7-year old, read them to himself and his little brothers. I see them becoming voracious readers and bothering me to no end to take them to the library.

It is because of this I am not surprised that my little geeks loved Neri and her clock. The story is simple to adults but strangely appealing to little geeks. This is especially true for my 2-year old who is always bring the book to me or his older brothers to read. But what is the appeal of Nerni and her gnome like ways?

First, the artwork is very whimsical and kid’ish (if that is even a word). Clearly, there is some appeal to the minimalistic art direction as my youngest just looks at the book over and over again. Second, the story is fast and to the point. Third, it’s just plain fun. These three aspects of the book make it an immediate hit for my little geeks.

The book is easy for my 7-year old to read and share with his 2-year old brother – QUALITY TIME!

On an interesting sidenote, the author of the book, Dr. Todd Edwards (a father of 2 children himself) is no slouch. He has a B.S. in Physics, a PH.D in Bioengineering ,and professionally repairs robotics around the United States. During all this, he’s found the time to write a children’s book that focuses on science and inventing; two areas of particular interest to the author.

According to Mr. Edwards, one of his favorite activities is to make up stories with his little geeks. They work on a story together and determine what actions the characters should take. Nerni is a familiar character who returns again and again in their stories. The author purposely puts Nerni and her friends in situations where there are problems to be solved and then works through the choices Nerni will make with his little geeks. Actually, the back story about how Nerni came about is very touching. According to the author…

I created Nerni and her friends as bedtime stories to entertain my daughter. She tells me which characters she wants to hear about and what sort of adventure they’ll have, and then I make up the story as I go. I wrote down the best stories and made the picture books so my wife could read them when I had to be out of town. My daughter and her friends enjoyed the stories so much that I decided to share them with everyone. And, of course, my secret desire is to get kids interested in science and engineering.

Parent Geeks, you are going to enjoy how much your little geeks like the characters and how science and creativity are fussed together to create a fun little story. There are plenty of opportunities in the book to discuss what Nerni is doing and serves as a great jumping point to discuss science topics or letting your little geeks try their hand at inventing their own things. Do take note, however, that the book is very simple and might not appeal to children over the age of 5. This book is for your youngest little geeks and should be a great time for them.

Child Geeks, do you like inventing things? Then Nerni is the gnome for you! Nerni is a happy little gnome who loves to invent things to solve problems. I’m sure you have things in your life you’d like to invent that could make things easier, too. For example, how about a robot that picks up your toys, eats your spinach, or plays great music that makes you feel better when you are sad? Nerni thinks about these things, too!

In summary, Nerni Invents Clock is a fun little book for younger little geeks and a solid first children’s book from the author. Fun artwork, easy language, and a positive message deliver a great story for you to read and share with your little geek. I’m looking forward to the author’s next book release and eager to see what Nerni will be working on next!

To learn more about Nerni and her friends, as well as grab some downloadable pictures you and your little geeks can print off and color, see the book’s official web site.

This book was given to Father Geek as a review copy. Father Geek was not paid, bribed, wined, dined, or threatened in vain hopes of influencing this review. Such is the statuesque and legendary integrity of Father Geek.