Auckland Council Libraries: Explore, examine, and experience

Explore, examine, and experience

From Aotearoa’s seashore to the hidden lives of trees, explore the natural world with these fascinating reads.

Busy-eyed day

Anne Marie Pace

Picture book

Two siblings, along with their grandmother and mother, spend a day taking in the sights at the park.

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Finding wild

Megan Wagner Lloyd

Picture book

All the ways and places that wild exists in our world and where you can find it

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Nature trail

Benjamin Zephaniah

Picture book

All around us, from parks to gardens and flowerpots to pavements, there's a world of wonder just waiting to be discovered. Why not look a little closer and see what you find?

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Tide's Out = Tai Timu

Frances Plumpton

Picture book

There's much to discover meandering along a New Zealand beach with small children when the tide is out. This simple bilingual counting book, with watercolour illustrations, features many treasures to encourage their curiosity.

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The Tiny Explorers

Kat Macleod

Picture book

Under the daisies and dandelion clocks, gathering forgotten odds and ends… what will the Tiny Explorers do with their magical finds? Join the Tiny Explorers on a treasure hunt through the garden!

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Wild summer

Sean Taylor

Picture book

A young girl's grandfather teaches her about challenges facing the natural world around her, as we explore a meadow, stream, heathland, fire-charred pine wood, fossil rich cliffs, rocky cove and ocean life.

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Tales from the ocean

Chae Strathie

Book

The ocean is full of life, from the icy depths of the Antarctic to the tropical waters of the coral reefs. Explore the stormy seas with Seal, go fishing with Small Penguin, play hide-and-seek with Seahorse and find a new home with Hermit Crab!

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Wilder

Penny Chrimes

Book

To protect her mother, her falcon and herself, Rhodd, the child from the wilderness sets out to discover what - or who - is causing the village's river to dry up.

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Geeky f@b 5. #5, "Smoky Mountain science squad"

Lucy Lareau

Graphic novel

The Geeky Fab Five will be trailblazers and maybe even hug some ancient trees while they're at it as these girls take to the woods, in their signature GF5 style.

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If you go down to the woods today

Rachel Piercey

Graphic novel

Experience the everyday wonder of nature in this first book of poetry, exploring a magical woodland. Join Bear on his journey through the year with lots of friends to meet, places to explore and things to spot along the way.

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24 hours on the Kiwi seashore

Darryl Torckler

Book

Discover the busy ecosystem of our country's seashore over a 24-hour cycle. Observe the seals and yellow-eyed penguins who come ashore to sleep; dive beneath the waves to frolic with the bottlenose dolphins and jellyfish.

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A bug's world

Erica McAlister

Book

Did you know that flies can help solve crimes? Spiders can be astronauts? Moths are the ultimate fashion designers? From making our food to keeping the planet clean to solving crimes, bugs hep us every day. Often without us even realising!

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One world

Nicola Davies

Book

As the clock strikes midnight, a little girl and her sister visit animals of every shape and size, all around the world, discovering that, in some places, creatures have just started their day, where in others they're already busy hunting for food.

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The outdoor scientist

Temple Grandin

Book

This book explores all areas of nature and gives readers the tools to discover even more on their own. With 40 projects to give readers a deeper understanding of the world around them, from the depths of space to their own backyard.

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Tiaki

Jean (Author of Tiaki) Donaldson

Book

This book is a shout-out to Aotearoa's weird and wonderful endangered species, the lesser-known creatures that don't often make the news, but are just as important as kākāpō and kiwi. They are the precious foundation of our spectacular biodiversity.

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The tree book

Hannah Alice

Book

With labelled acetate diagrams of a tree throughout the year, alongside minibeasts and animals that live in trees, this is a fantastic first look at nature for curious children everywhere.

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Wildlife of Aotearoa

Gavin Bishop

Book

Long before waka touched Aotearoa's shores, the land of the long white cloud was home to an array of creatures uniquely adapted to its environments and protected by its isolation. Meet New Zealand's incredible wildlife in this visual exploration.

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The wild world handbook

Andrea Debbink

Book

The first book in a middle grade series for young environmental activists and nature lovers, this book offers a roadmap for change and an invitation to explore the outdoors, alongside surprising facts and hands-on STEAM activities.

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Auckland Council Libraries:Book list Recommended reading lists about different topics and genres to help you find new books to read.