"Man must feel the earth to know himself and recognize his values.... God made life simple. It is man who complicates it."
- Charles A. Lindbergh
Flo and Fred go to Glowworm Caves
When Fred's dad suggests a trip to the glowworm caves, Flo and Fred are excited to go on an epic quest. Along the way they meet glowworms and a cave weta and have more adventures than they bargined for!
Will they be able to find their way through the deep cave system and safely get back home?
A tale of friendship and courage and a fun and engaging way to explore the unique biology and geology of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
An early chapter book with rich vocabulary. Includes illustrations by Emily Kinghorn on almost every page.
This is now available to Pre-Order, with a special discount price and it will be shipped before 1st June, 2026.
How this book came about
I told my publisher about a visit to Sanctuary Mountain (Maugatautari) that I had done with my children and some friends. He said it sounded like a wonderful place and suggested I write a book about some of the natural wonders of New Zealand.
I wanted to write a book for a slightly younger group, as my youngest daughter has just turned five. So I found an amazing local artist who was excited about illustrating a book, and together we have started the Kiwi Marvels series.
The illustrator
Emily is a homeschooled teenager who lives on a lifestyle block in the Waikato with her parents and three siblings. She has loved drawing for as long as she can remember, starting with creating comics at just four years old. As she grew older, she began writing her own stories and illustrating them too.
This is her first book as a published illustrator—and she’s excited to share it.
"I cannot recommend The New Zealand Bird Book highly enough. It is absolutely packed with information, all delivered in such an endearing and engaging story - my kids and I were in stitches at little Peter Rapiti's antics. My seven year old enjoyed it so much that we read it right over again as soon as we had finished it. We can't wait for book #2!"
- Rachel
"My 5 year old son loved listening to this book being read to him and kept asking for me to read it to him. He has had more awareness of birds and we have spent more time talking about different birds we have seen around the place as a result. Engaging and educational. So neat to have a resource on New Zealand birds that not only informs but also captures the imagination."
- Beth
"The New Zealand Bird book is a very charming story where a curious little rabbit introduces young readers to the captivating world of NZ's native birds.
What my son loved the most was the 130+ vibrant photos and stunning illustrations, every page is brimming with life! The stunning visuals in this book will charm any young reader."
- Peace through Grace
"What I loved about this book is that it takes you on a journey to learn about the habits, diets, and unique challenges of New Zealand’s feathered friends. It has this unique blend of storytelling and natural history, it’s a wonderful “living book” that even weaves in Māori vocabulary, making it both educational and engaging... a perfect fit for home schoolers and nature-loving families alike."
- Peace through Grace
Finding beauty in the everyday.
How to Connect
email: sarita.betschart@gmail.com