Tākapu the Lone Hunter

By Ned Barraud

A & U Children NZ 2026

Reviewed by Margarite Igras

Ned Barraud is a New Zealand-based author and illustrator of exquisitely detailed books about the flora and fauna of his country Aotearoa. The books, aimed at 4- to 10-year-olds, celebrate the incredible biodiversity of his country. He is known for his Explore and Discover series which include At The Beach, In the Garden, Under the Ocean and From Boa to Dinosaurs and has also written and illustrated two fiction picture books: Moonman and Watch Out For the Weka. This book, Tākapu the Lone Hunter provides a window into a day in the life of a pair of gannets ensuring that their chick is fed and cared for.

It is mother gannet’s turn to hunt for food, while father remains with the chick. She has to travel a long distance out to sea and come back with food for her hungry chick. Soon she sees movement in the vast ocean; there are dolphins herding pilchards, but there is also a shark lurking and the shadow of a huge whale. She darts into the water but, other birds in the feeding frenzy steal her catch. She has One last desperate attempt…

From the action-filled cover to the beautifully detailed illustrations on each of the 32 pages, our younger reader will be visually amazed at the detail in the illustrations and the various fonts in the simple text. The author has also included additional information at the back of the book about the other fish and animals the gannet encounters in her search for food.

A beautiful, informative book that will have many repeat readings. For readers 3 – 10.