What Happened to the Moa

I knew that I would like this book before I even opened it. Ned Barraud’s non-fiction picture books always leave me feeling that I know a lot about a subject after a relatively quick read. His pictures are beautiful whilst being accurate and informative. That it reads like a story means that you finish the book with a satisfactory chunk of knowledge.

What Happened to the Moa explores the nine different species of moa and their varied habitats, their diets and the dangers they would have encountered. Their extinction came about through hunting and land clearance but the bones of moa continued to be hunted long after their demise thanks to a British naturalist popularising their existence and value. The final tale of a possible sighting of a moa in 1880 leaves you with a feeling of wonder and excitement about New Zealand’s little explored territories.

The book has the feeling of quality that we have come to expect from Potton and Burton; perfect bound with heavy matte pages. The illustrations manage to be atmospheric while incorporating diagrams and labels.

This book is a must have for all school libraries and could be used alongside school journal articles that look at areas of the story in more detail. It is also just a fascinating read.

Title: What Happened to the Moa

Author & Illustrator: Ned Barraud

Publisher: Potton and Burton

ISBN: 9781988550121

RRP: $29.99 hardback/$19.99 paperback

Format: paperback

Date of Publication: October 2020

Ages: 5-12

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

How are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? For millions of years, moa roamed Aotearoa.

You can buy this book here