Fascinating and Captivating: 6 Books for Curious Young Minds

Check out our picks for books that’ll not only teach your children more around the wacky, wild and wonderful world around them, but also have them poring over the details on every page!

We think these books are just the thing to keep your curious little minds entertained: whether it’s picture books that encourage kids to explore and create in the natural world, or maybe non-fiction that helps your little ones learn about incredible migration journeys, unbelievable under-the-sea creatures or museum exhibitions you have to see (okay, read) to believe!

Read on for some perfect ways to keep them away from screens… for a little while, at least.

How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures by Sami Bayly

Take a deep dive into the evolution stories behind some of the most surprising creatures from the sea, and hear their stories about how they have changed over millions of years to survive in the inky ocean depths!

Ages 3+

Buy a copy of How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures here.

Amazing Animal Journeys by Jennifer Cossins

A beautifully illustrated book that’s chock-full of fascinating animal facts, focusing on 25 species from Australia and around the world with intriguing migration journeys.

Ages 7+

Buy a copy of Amazing Animal Journeys here.

A Stick and a Stone by Sarina Dickson, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper

Come exploring with our campers as they spot treasures along the track to their campsite. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the cheeky kea along the way! But what happens when the curious campers take a wrong turn?

Ages 2+

Buy a copy of A Stick and a Stone here.

The Big Book of Exhibits by Marita Bullock and Joan-Maree Hargreaves, illustrated by Liz Rowland

From some of the oldest objects in the world, to an underwater museum in Mexico and a collection of the world’s smallest books in Russia, this book includes over 50 exhibitions from past to present.

Ages 7+

Buy a copy of The Big Book of Exhibits here.

Let’s Build a Backyard by Mike Lucas and Daron Parton

A fun look at creating a backyard from scratch; from moving the mud and building the fence through to planting a vegie garden and adding in the compost. Let’s Build a Backyard is a high-energy, brightly illustrated picture book by a real-life engineer!

Ages 2+

Buy a copy of Let’s Build a Backyard here.

Squawk! by Donovan Bixley

Join award-winning author and illustrator Donovan Bixley to discover and learn about the fascinating and fabulous forest birds of Aotearoa – including moa, tui, kakapo, whio and so many more!

Ages 3+

Buy a copy of Squawk! here.