New Zealand's Backyard Beasts (PB)

Author(s): Ned Barraud

NZ Non Fiction | Animals

In the garden, creeping along branches, hiding under stones or flitting from flower to flower, a whole universe of creatures is waiting to be discovered. Butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, spiders - what have you found in your backyard? Did you know that chorus cicadas live underground for most of their life? That bumblebees have smelly feet? That some species of stick insect are all female? Or that earwigs don't actually crawl into ears? In New Zealand's Backyard Beasts, children (and adults) can learn to identify some of the creatures most commonly found in the backyard. Beautiful illustrations are accompanied by informative text and fascinating facts. New Zealand's Backyard Beasts includes bees and wasps, beetles, butterflies and moths, mantises and stick insects and weta (insects), centipedes and millipedes (myriapods), spiders (arachnids), snails and slugs (crustaceans) and more. The book also introduces the magical transformations of complete and incomplete metamorphosis that insects undergo in their lifecycle. From the simply curious to the budding entomologist, New Zealand's Backyard Beasts will please and inform all age groups about the fascinating creatures found in the back garden. Whether just looking at the beautiful illustrations or absorbing the facts, this book is a must for all backyard adventurers.

George's Review:


New Zealand's Backyard Beasts, written and illustrated by Ned Barraud, is an exploration of the plethora of wildlife you can find right in your own backyard!


This book is full of great detailed drawings and descriptions of the life-cycles and behaviours of our many native and introduced insect species, and will inspire young ones to explore and discover what lives in the tiny world of their backyards.


A great learning resource for ages 7+.


Product Information

Finalist in the 2019 NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults - Non-Fiction Award

General Fields

  • : 9780947503772
  • : Potton & Burton Limited
  • : Craig Potton Publishing
  • : October 2018
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Ned Barraud
  • : Paperback
  • : 591.993
  • : 40