Tuatara. A living Treasure by Katie Furze, illus by Ned Barraud. Pub. Scholastic, 2023.

Tuatara are a natural treasure to the people of Aotearoa. They are found only here, can live up to 130 years and have a third light sensing organ that sticks through the top of their skulls that is often called a third eye.

This picture book follows the progress of a female tuatara from the moment that it breaks through it’s leathery underground egg and digs it’s way to the surface through to when she mates, lays eggs herself and guards the nest from other females.

Will she see her babies? Most tuatara never do and are forced to live in the daytime and hide at night to prevent being eaten by older tuatara who hunt at night.

Each page has great illustrations by Ned Barraud whose images are better than any photograph. The image of a full grown tuatara of pages 3&4 is a treasure in itself.

I learned more about tuatara from this picture book than from any other source. Young children through to adults will get something out of this picture book. Katie Furze’s text creates drama and harmonises beautifully with the illustrations.

One of the best of the year.