New Zealand Nature Heroes
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| My first hero Richard Henry, caretaker of New Zealand's first island sanctuary |
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| Taking part in a bird count - the activity paired with activist Perrine Moncrieff |
I'm developing a website www.discovernature.nz/nature-heroes/ to carry further information about New Zealand Nature Heroes, this will be the place young people can go to for up-to-date links and projects ideas.
My target audience is 8-14 year olds. I wanted fans of my other nature books to have something to move on to when they've grown out of At the Beach or Whose Beak is This?. It's also the book I'd have loved to have had for my son when he was growing up. (He's a nature hero too - winner of the 2019 World Rowing Sustainability Award.)
Through New Zealand Nature Heroes, I met some amazing people who generously gave their time and shared their experiences. I also discovered so many other nature heroes, I would have had enough for dozens of books. What a shame I couldn't include them all.
This book was 3 years in the making and was made possible by a grant from Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) for which I am most grateful. My publishers Potton & Burton and designer Floor van Lierop went the extra mile with the production to make this a beautiful book.
I'm delighted to say that New Zealand Nature Heroes has already had two rave reviews. Forest & Bird Magazine say "If you buy one book for your nature-loving child this Christmas, make it this one." and The Spin-off have named it "The best children's book of 2019", you can read more of what they have to say here https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/10-12-2019/the-best-childrens-book-of-2019-plus-the-rest-of-our-top-10/