This title in New Holland’s ‘I am a …’ series introduces the very young to the giants of the deep that live off New Zealand and in oceans all around the world. At a basic and easy-to-grasp level, the book covers the differences between toothed and baleen whales, their methods of hunting and feeding, their breeding and migration habits and the need to conserve their habitat. Photos and amusing illustrations bring the subject to life and the simple rhyming text helps young readers absorb the facts. While the overall content is global, matching the cosmopolitan distribution of most whales, the species shown in the pictures are primarily those found around New Zealand – the humpback, sperm, right whale and others – making this a strong local title. 

This new series for the very young (4–6) is a first introduction to wildlife, presented in simple and catchy rhyming verses and illustrated both with cute cartoon characters and documentary photographs.