Little Gems

by Gervase Phinn

Young children are nothing if not honest, and their honesty is invariably disarming and comical. Who better to discover their innermost thoughts than bestselling author and former school inspector Gervase Phinn? From his lifetime of school visits, and talking to parents and grandparents, Gervase has put together a delightful compilation of children's wise words, insightful observations on life and their amusing comments about others. Such

"Grandma, your face needs ironing!"

"The nativity play's off, Miss - the Virgin Mary's got nits."

"When you're dead, Grandpa, can I have your watch?"

"Mummy, Mummy, my caterpillars in the jar on the windowsill are turning into Christians."

"My Daddy says my Grannie's past her sell-by date."

"Mummy, what does God stand on? Perhaps it's a hard cloud."

"Granddad,we've been asked to take something very very old into school. Will you come in with me tomorrow?"

Young child just before saying his "I'm sick of talking to God with my eyes closed."

Genres: Nonfiction

96 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Gervase Phinn (born 27 December 1946, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England) is an English author and educator. After a career as a teacher he became a schools inspector.

He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer, a consultant for the Open University, Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, York, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of the University of Leicester, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of The University of Hull and the Fellow and Visiting Professor of Education at The University of Teesside.

In 2005 the highest academic award of Sheffield Hallam University, Doctor of the University (D.Univ.) was conferred upon him by the Chancellor, Professor Lord Robert Winston. In 2006 he became President of The School Library Association.

He has published five volumes of memoir, collections of poetry and a number of books about education. He has a particular interest in children's literature and literacy.
He is married with four grown-up children.

Reviews

[Yasmeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is called Little Gems by Gervase Phinn. This book is a snapshot of children's mindset and amusing opinions of the world's ways. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 10 as some of the book may be thought to be inappropriate by children under 10. I gave this book 2 stars because it wasn't very interesting and failed to entertain.

[Amanda Corry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I dip into this it brings a smile to my face. A child's eye view of the world.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short and enjoyable collection of 'little gems' from people who have written in to Gervase about things their children have said.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Gervase Phinn. I was so excited to find this little “gem” on a bookshelf in an Airbnb while on vacation in Cornwall, UK. I read it in one night and laughed throughout.