Ned Barraud has been illustrating children's books since 2000, after studying art at Victoria University. He has illustrated seven books in the highly successful 'Explore and Discover' series about different ecosystems in New Zealand, and seven other books on his own, including 'Watch out for the Weka', and 2018's acclaimed book on insects 'New Zealand's Backyard Beasts'. Always fascinated by the form and beauty of the animal kingdom, Ned produced 'Where is it? A wildlife hunt for Kiwi kids', in 2020, and since then 'What happened to the Moa', 'New Zealand's Backyard Birds', and 'Incredible Journeys: New Zealand Wildlife on the Move'. He lives in Wellington with his wife and three children.