K.R.A.P – The Karacter Recognition and Promotion Society, wish to correct a wrong doing – namely, the suspicion of unethical practices by
respected scientist Professor Ficticious Karacter.
They believe publishing the journal (of which you hold in your hands) is the last recorded proof of his work.
It begins in Jan 1950, documenting Prof Karacter’s excitement in beginning his genetic engineering scientific experiments with funding, and a lab for two years. Although finding a lab assistant proves tricky at first, the Prof soon meets Dr Eary Mann,
“A short blank-faced individual with no discernible personality. Seems capable.”
From the very first experiment, Prof Karacter records all of his experiments with in depth notes and feelings and sketches of his results. His reports to his funders aren’t quite as truthful, but he perseveres with his experiments with Dr Mann’s help.
Over the next nine months, the journal notes become more telling and stressed as experiments don’t quite go as expected. The drawings are just as detailed in Prof Karacter’s surprise at the results.
A month later, Dr Eary Mann’s resulting witness statement reveals the final experiments of his boss and what the authorities found on arrival.
Samples from the Lab is like nothing I’ve ever read.
From the outside cover – hardback and designed to look like a well used and old scientific journal, this Finalist in the NZ Children’s & Young Adult Book Awards 2024, is a marvel.
An official report begins the story – also looking like the real thing, and giving the reader a hint of the humour and nimble word play they are about to experience.
The journal looks like a handwritten diary, and photos are included along with newspaper clippings explaining nine months of a geneticist and his experiments. These go increasingly haywire and the results are just as frightening as hilarious.
The more I read of this journal, the more I was in awe of the spectacular, imaginative pencil sketched drawings throughout. The final results of experiments are coloured, but there are many smaller black and white pencil sketches – intricately detailed and drawing the eye to pore over them.
This ‘journal’ was crowd funded through Kickstarter, and worth every contribution.
Brilliant.
Author / Illustrator – Rob Foote
Age – 11+
See inside here
(2024, Rob Foote, Science, Humour, Funny, NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, Experiments, Word Play, Puns, Scientific Drawings, Finalist, Journal, Recordings, Notes, Observations, Secrets, Animals, Genetics, Geneticist, Mad Scientist)