Which? What? Why? New Zealand Seashore Wildlife

I really like the book author/illustrator, Dave Gunson, has put together in Which? What? Why? New Zealand Seashore Wildlife. It is a book with plenty to offer those who are interested in the coast, and as Gunson points out in one of his helpful text boxes, New Zealand’s coastline is about 18,000 kilometres long, so there is a lot to be interested in!

The book is 32 pages long and has a good mixture of text and illustration. There is lots of colour, and a good use of text boxes with extra facts and figures. A mixture of font size and type mean it can be read at different levels, i.e. dipping in and out to read the various short texts in the boxes or reading from cover to cover. Gunson makes good use of humour and the book presents itself as one that he has had a lot of fun putting together. As an example, on the page about hermit crabs, two crabs are depicted at the ‘Shell Be Right’ Mobile Homes sales yard, with signs such as “low kms” and “take one for a test walk today!”

I’ve made a small nature display table in the library here and I’ll be using Gunson’s book to refer to when talking with classes about what’s on the table (shells etc.), and to display for children who want to know more.

Title: Which? What? Why? New Zealand Seashore Wildlife

Author & Illustrator: Dave Gunson

Publisher: Bateman Books

ISBN: 978-1-98-853831-0

RRP: $19.99

Format: Paperback

Publication: October 2020

Ages: 5-10 Years

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

How are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

Opening sentence: The saltiness of the sea comes from the rocks on land.

You can buy this book here