Pu and Ru’s Bird Beak Clues by Jez Smith, Illus. Ned Barraud. Pub. Scholastic, 2024

Pu the Pukeko and Ru the Ruru, do an Ant and Dec on NZ birds as they explore bird beaks to identify NZ native birds in their habitats.

Jez Smith provides a rhyming couplet text while Ru describes how the bird’s beaks are used and Pu provides a funny comment eg in response to the Kiwi’s beak Pu says “talk about sticking your nose in where it’s not wanted“.

Piwakawaka, Kereru, Tui, Karerea, Kotare, Kotuku, Hoiho, Kakapo, Puteketeke, Whio, Kea and takahe are all featured.

Ned Barraud captures the features of each bird beak well and adds to the overall humour of the publication as he always does.

A quality publication about NZ birds