Golden Eyes: The Yellow-eyed Penguin Hoiho by Kelly Lynch

Kelly Lynch is a freelance writer and photographer, and her work has appeared in numerous magazines and books. She loves to travel to remote areas to watch and photograph wildlife, and her stunning photos make this book a pleasure to look at.

The text of the book allows the reader to meet Golden Eyes in his habitat at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. He makes his nest in the bushes at the base of a cliff, and each morning he waddles down to the beach to fish for food. He’s super shy and prefers to be away from prying eyes, but he is all eyes for his partner Curio and their chick. They are an adorable family, but they have to beware of dogs, cats, rats, ferrets, stoats and weasels.

This is a delightful book for young readers, and it’s handy to have a guide of penguin breeding and viewing platforms in the back. This book would be a handy reference for children to read before going on a trip to see the yellow-eyed penguins in real life. But even if that isn’t possible, it’s an excellent book for any child. The yellow-eyed penguin is the world’s rarest penguin, so hopefully, this book will help in the appreciation of preserving these distinctive penguins.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Bateman Books, RRP $19.99