Open this beautifully illustrated book to meet the cast of the story. You will see a plethora of creatures that are only found on Chatham Island New Zealand. One is so rare it was thought to be extinct, but now has rules protecting it’s survival.

The main character of the story is the Chatham Island Red Admiral Butterfly / Kahukura (NZ’s Bug of the Year 2024). A game is about to begin among the creatures. Kahukura is going to be the one seeking, in a game of Hide and Seek.

She flutters along to rhyming text above nīkau palms, rotting logs, and the rough bark of trees, spotting her friends in double page spreads.

Beneath each creature is an interesting fact about it. There are so many special creatures only found on this special island with strange names I’d never heard of – Spittlebug, Fat-legged Weta, and Longhorn Beetle among them.

Each creature is in colour while their surroundings are sparsely portrayed in black ink on white backgrounds.

The Butterfly Fluttered By is a beautiful companion to the previous picture book by this author-illustrator team, One Weka Went Walking. (see below)

Both are essential to Aotearoa New Zealand Nature lovers, young and old, with stunning hand painted illustrations and perfectly timed rhyme.

Once you’ve finished reading and are saying goodbye to the creatures in the back of the book, grab a ruler to see how big or small these insects and spiders really are.

Author – Kate Preece

Illustrator – Pippa Ensor

Non-Fiction – all ages

(2024, Bateman Books, Rēkohu, Wharekauri, Chatham Islands, Insects, Rhyme, Hide & Seek, Game, Fun Facts, Native Fauna, NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, Bugs, Spiders, Rare Creatures, Red Admiral Butterfly, Kahukura, Non-Fiction)