native fish - Michele Gierck

Love Reader Responses

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Michele Gierck

Love it when a reader tells me not only how much they 'love' Gladys and Stripey, but how they have drawn inspiration from this story, and have TAKEN ACTION. The fellow who emailed me this morning has set up a pond at home, which a Southern Brown Tree Frog also calls home, (much to the owner's delight), and the aquatic vegetation is growing. Now he's thinking about fish! And he's been sharing the story -- not just the book, but all about his pond -- with his primary school students. Now, he tells me, they are into frogs and native fish! Gotta love that.

Photos used with permission.

A Fab Science Day

Posted on April 3, 2025April 3, 2025 by Michele Gierck

Loved presenting Gladys and Stripey -- my environmental children's book -- to Grade 1s at Watsonia Heights Primary School for Science Day. After the main presentation, I visited three classrooms, so each child had the chance to move their fish of choice, or eel, up (and down) the (painted) fish ladder. Nothing like a hands-on exercise to bring fun and learning together. Thanks to Emma, the wonderful science teacher, who made those endearing eels! I intend to make more over the term break.

Beginning to feel like the Fish Lady

Posted on February 19, 2025February 19, 2025 by Michele Gierck

In the last couple of weeks I was beginning to feel like the Fish Lady, with questions about the flathead galaxias, a request to visit a property re: native fish, and just finished my research and submitted the manuscript on a new children's book, which has a lot to do with Australian native fish and their habitats. Plus the orders for Gladys and Stripey keep coming in! While researching I found this wonderful video -- Fern Hames, the fish lady. I can relate to that! Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL2qjP6O1ac

Galaxiellas are not the only stars

Posted on January 20, 2025January 20, 2025 by Michele Gierck

On a recent visit to Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary, Scientist John and I were delighted discover the Galaxiella Billabong. Great to see our little native fish, Galaxiella pusilla, being recognised and protected. And what a hoot to have a close, unexpected encounter with a resident, and most curious, emu!

Mary River Festival

Posted on July 18, 2024July 19, 2024 by Michele Gierck

Scientist John, (who inspired my first children's picture book, Gladys and Stripey), and I, enjoyed being at the Mary River Festival at Kandanga, south east Queensland, last weekend. The Mary River flows into the lower part of the Great Barrier Reef, so improving water quality in the Mary River system is essential. Loved this fish mural which greeted us on the way into the event.

I'm currently working on some articles based on scientists who have spent decades working on the Great Barrier Reef. What an amazingly beautiful and intricately complex ecosystem our reef is. It's a delight to spend time with these committed scientists.

Never too young to start reading

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Michele Gierck

In late March, I attended the Native Fish Forum in Canberra, where my picture book about an Australian native fish was on display. (And for sale.) One of the ecologists took a copy home. Next morning he showed me this gorgeous photo of his son 'reading' Gladys and Stripey: two little fish on one BIG adventure. What a treasure -- Never Too Young To Start Reading.

More information about the book can be found on the Gladys and Stripey page of Michele Gierck's website: www.michelegierck.com.au

Top Summer Bookshop Sellers

Posted on March 20, 2024March 20, 2024 by Michele Gierck

Thanks to Eltham Bookshop and Readings for being Best Bookshop Summer Sellers of my first children's picture book, Gladys and Stripey: two little fish on one BIG adventure. I'll be heading to the Native Fish Forum in Canberra, next week, along with Gladys and Stripey, and Scientist John who inspired the book.

Inquiries for Science Week 2024 have begun!

Posted on January 30, 2024January 31, 2024 by Michele Gierck

School is back. Inquiries have started. Gladys and Stripey, a book about an Australian native freshwater endangered fish species, is ideal for Science Week 2024, with its theme of conservation and endangered species.

What's even more exciting is that over the summer I've been working with a tech team to develop a digital picture book of Gladys and Stripey, two little fish on one BIG adventure. More news on that SOON.

If you'd like to get in touch with Michele please contact her via the contact page on her website.

River Detectives discover Gladys and Stripey picture book

Posted on October 12, 2023October 29, 2023 by Michele Gierck

It's great that the River Detectives program has discovered Gladys and Stripey: two little fish on one BIG adventure, and like it so much, that this unique picture book, --'valuable to all as a way of learning about waterways, native fish and importance of healthy habitat and fish passage' -- is now one of their recommended resources.

The book is based on an Australian threatened freshwater fish species. It encourages readers to discover what's in their own waterway. Public and school librarians will want to check there's a copy on their shelves.

More details about Gladys and Stripey: two little fish on one BIG adventure, including a video, educator notes and activities can be found at https://michelegierck.com.au/gladys-and-stripey/

www.michelegierck.com.au

The Joy of Learning

Posted on September 26, 2023October 29, 2023 by Michele Gierck

What a blast to read the story, Gladys and Stripey: two little fish on one BIG adventure, then take kids (along with their adults) down to a real fish ladder where scientist John answered questions and told a few of his own stories. Follow that with a make-shift fish ladder, watching kids moving the fish through it. (Big fish in the deeper part. Little ones stopping to rest.) And finish off with some clay modelling. Who would have thought the kids would craft not only fish, but a sculptured fish ladder! Oh, the joy of learning. It's brilliant. And all the time, the kids were just having fun. Adults too.

Where's the real fish ladder? Just behind the sign I'm pointing to, which explains all about Darebin Creek Fish Ladder. I'll include a pic in a future post.

Group of children and their adults, parents and grandparents, learning about a fish ladder, before exploring a real one.

To find out more about Gladys and Stripey: two little fish on one BIG adventure, go to Michele's website: www.michelegierck.com.au