Under the Ocean: Explore & Discover New Zealand's Sea Life (PB)

Author(s): Gillian Candler; Ned Barraud

NZ - Childrens Picture Books

Under the Ocean introduces young children to the creatures that live in the seas around New Zealand. The book describes different habitats: underwater reefs, the sea floor, the open ocean and the deep ocean. Animals featured in the fact pages include octopus and squid, sharks and rays, whales, dolphins, penguins and many others. Under the Ocean is the third volume in the Explore and Discover series, following Gillian Candler and Ned Barraud's best-selling At the Beach, which was a finalist in the non-fiction section of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, and the popular title In the Garden. Under the Ocean was written in response to children's requests to have a book that included sea creatures such as sharks, octopus and giant squid. Although children can't explore the sea first hand in the way they can explore a garden or the beach, they are fascinated by the amazing creatures that live in the ocean.

I read this book with mum. If I lived under the ocean I would feel like a beautiful princess called Rapunzel. I like all the many sorts of fish, but I don't like that eel. Look at the Fiordland crested penguin! I like that one. Why is it like that? I really like the clown nudibranch. It is interesting. I drew this one. Mum drew it too, but she got it wrong. - Theodora (4)


This children’s guide to what lives in the seas that surround New Zealand is beautifully illustrated. The book explores the creatures that can’t always be seen, those creatures that inhabit New Zealand’s ocean environment. Not only creatures that live in the sea are described but also the different environments they live in, from the sea floor to the open ocean. Small sea creatures such as plankton and krill, to the giants of the sea whales and many other creatures in between are illustrated and described. An excellent way for children to improve their understanding of New Zealand’s sea life. - Sarah


Product Information

Finalist: New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2015

Gillian Candler was a secondary-school teacher for many years before moving into educational publishing with Learning Media in Wellington, where she worked as an editor, project manager and eventually CEO. She currently works as an educational publishing consultant from her home in Pukerua Bay.


Ned Barraud is a talented illustrator with a passion for sea creatures. His work has been published frequently in the School Journal, and he illustrated The Earthquake and the Butterfly (2012). He works at Weta Digital as a texture artist and lives in Wellington, spending lots of time exploring the seashore with his three young children.

General Fields

  • : 9781927213087
  • : Potton & Burton Limited
  • : Craig Potton Publishing
  • : August 2014
  • : 230 x 210 mm
  • : New Zealand
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Gillian Candler; Ned Barraud
  • : Paperback
  • : Ned Barraud
  • : 32
  • : Full colour illustrations