Animals of Aotearoa

It was difficult to give a reading age to Animals of Aotearoa because it can be read on many levels which is one of the many assets of this book. Children from four years onwards will enjoy looking at the illustrations of the myriad of creatures featured from birds to fish, frogs to insects. Older children will enjoy reading about the many different species of wildlife profiled in the book.

The book has 112 pages and begins with a well laid out contents page listing the types of animals. An informative introduction gives good background information and at the back of the book there is a glossary and a comprehensive index. The 98 pages in between are full of really good information ably written by Gillian Candler and Ned Barraud’s illustrations are beautiful and realistic. Big headings and a good use of space makes the book easy to delve in and out of.

This hard-back format will make it an excellent resource for any school library but also for any home. Parents, care-givers and children can have fun exploring the book and using it as a guide for nature spotting. I would thoroughly recommend this book and indeed the others in the Explore and Discover series by Candler and Barraud.

Title: Animals of Aotearoa

ISBN: 9780947503895

Author: Gillian Candler

Illustrator: Ned Barraud

Publisher: Potton & Burton

RRP: $34.99

Format: Hardback

Published: October 2018

Ages: 4 years +

Reviewer: Vickie Humphries, Librarian, Mount Cook School, Wellington

How highly are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

You can buy this book here