Inside New Zealand Wildlife

As expected, this is another beautiful and informative book from Dave Gunson, but the title is to be taken literally. Alongside each detailed illustration of a New Zealand species is a cross section showing us its insides. From the lasagne-like layers of a leaf to the slightly alarming skull of a bronze whaler shark, each page follows a similar format but is carefully tailored to best inform the reader, often with additional illustrations and information boxes.

One of the spreads that I found most fascinating was about the Long-tailed bat (pekapeka) which weighs only about 8 to 11 grams (a NZ$2 coin weighing around 10g) and can fly at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. This section leads into extending information about the forearms of mammals. Looking at the bones of a human, frog, lizard, bat, bird and a whale alongside each other highlights the surprising similarities of vertebrate skeletons.

I highly recommend this book and know that it will be poured over in our library. The exciting hologram on the cover will be the lure but the beautiful yet slightly gory diagrams of our wonderful wildlife will be the hook.

Title: Inside New Zealand Wildlife

Author & Illustrator: Dave Gunson

Publisher: Bateman Books

ISBN: 978-1-98-855886-0

RRP: $24.99

Format: paperback / softback

Publication: October 2021

Ages: 8+

Themes: Exploring the workings of our native flora and fauna

Do you have any advisory warnings for this book? Some young children may feel alarmed by the cross sections of some of the animals but they are drawn scientifically.

Would this book work as a read-aloud? no

Is there a particular part of the country that it’s set in? no

Reviewer: Kirsten Puddick, Librarian, Holy Cross School, Wellington

How are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? Among the multitude of wildlife species in and around New Zealand, there’s a great number that New Zealanders can easily recognise.

You can buy this book here