review
After the successful first book De Gorgels, there is now also a second book by Jochem Myjer. This time no reading book, but a picture book about the world of the Gorges. Melle and Bobba are also central in this book. Melle has super eyes and can see Gorgels. Melle’s Gorgel is called Bobba, Bobba ensures that the Brutelaars stay away from Melle. It is an imaginative and adventurous book with beautiful drawings by Rick de Haas.
Information about the picture book The World of Gorges
- Writer: Jochem Myjer
- Illustrator: Rick de Haas
- Publisher: Leopold BV
- Published: November 2016
- Number of pages: 32
- ISBN: 9789025871413
- Suitable for the age: 3 to 8 years
Writer and illustrator
Jochem Myjer is the author of the book De Gorgels. A surprise for most people, because Jochem Myjer is only known as a comedian. However, he started his first Gorgel book in 2014. Jochem Myjer studied biology in Groningen and that his heart is still with nature can be read in his books. The island of Texel, where he can be found regularly with his family, is also featured in his books.
In 2015 Jochem Myjer wrote a reading book about the Gorgels. After this success he started writing the picture book about the Gorgels for younger children. The collection of the Gorgels is constantly growing. In addition to a book and a picture book, a coloring book has also been published. Containing beautiful drawings of de Gorgels and Melle. In addition, a Gorgel hug was also designed in 2017.
Rick de Haas made the beautiful prints in the picture book. Rick de Haas is a well-known illustrator and has also illustrated the books about Mees Kees.
The story
A Gorgel was born on the island, the Gorgel Bobba. Bobba had to go to Gorgel School to learn all about the mean, dirty and nasty creatures: the Brutelaars. The Brutelaars want to ensure that children get sick or cold in the months with an R. De Gorgels watch over the human children and fight against the Brutelaars, so that they do not make the human children sick. When Bobba was old enough, he was also assigned a human child. A boy with a big head of curls and a happy face. Melle was his name.
When the R was in the month, Bobba left for the mainland to watch over Melle. Bobba ensures that Mella’s wounds are scabbed, that his growing pains are not bad and Bobba’s most important task is to keep the Brutelaars away from Melle. When the R is no longer in the month, Bobba returns to the island. On the island are all the other Gorgels and in four months, when the R is back in the month, Bobba will return to Melle!
Conclusion
It is a beautiful and above all imaginative book. The prints in the book clearly show how Bobba started his life and how Bobba ended up with Melle. The story in prints is easier for the younger children to follow. The book is written for children from 3 to 8 years old. This is certainly a good age bracket. The text is understandable and clear. However, for three-year-olds a short explanation is needed for some parts of the story, because the sentence structure is a bit too difficult. It is also a fun book for children older than 8 years to read and view for themselves. Reading the picture book may be a nice addition for these children, if they have already read the Gorgel reading book. The prints will also appeal to the older children, because the Gorgels are clearly visible on them. The imaginative adventures also tie in well with the children’s world of experience.
However, we are used to a picture book that has little text on a page. This is not the case with the world of Gorges. The texts on each print are long. This is not a disadvantage for most, but an advantage: this way the beautiful book can be read for a long time and we learn everything about those crazy, strange creatures that protect the human children!
