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Wild Next Door: Wildlife and Nature Book for Kids | Discover Insects, Birds, Reptiles and Backyard Animals through Fun Facts and Illustrations | Ages 9+
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2026
About the author
Arefa Tehsin
25 books25 followersArefa Tehsin is the author of 20+ books (publisher Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, National Book Trust etc), both for children and adults, and contributes columns, features and travel articles to various publications like Conde Nast Traveller, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, Outlook Money and TerraGreen. The Great Indian Safari (Puffin) has been shortlisted for BTB Wordsmith of Year 2025 and the AG-BLF 2025 Book Award. The Witch on the Peepul Tree, her first novel for adults, published by HarperCollins, was “super-shortlisted” for The Asian Prize for Fiction 2023; the only book from India to be in “The Asian Trio”. Her book The Chirmi Chasers was shortlisted for Neev Book Award 2021. Amra and the Witch was shortlisted for FCCI’s Best Book of the Year Award 2019. She was shortlisted for the The Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Best Author Award 2017 for her book Wild in the Backyard. The picture book The Elephant Bird was read at 3200+ locations in India from the slums to the Presidential library on the International Literacy Day, 2016 and translated in 35+ languages. Do Tigers Drink Blood and 13 Other Mysteries of Nature is being translated in Chinese. A few schools in India and Sri Lanka have taken up her books as textbooks and supplementary readers. The fantasy book ‘Iora and the Quest of Five’ was released in the U.S. and U.K. in 2022. Daughter of the renowned naturalist Dr. Raza H. Tehsin, Arefa has spent her childhood days treading jungles with her father, exploring caves and handling snakes. She was appointed as the Honorary Wildlife Warden of Udaipur district and has pursued nature conservation through her writings and columns. Find out more on www.arefatehsin.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 12, 2026
Some of the most fascinating creatures live right under our noses, and Wild Next Door is a delightful reminder of just how much there is to discover in our own backyards. Arefa Tehsin takes readers into the wonderfully weird world of insects, birds, reptiles and other small creatures, making even the most unlikely subjects interesting.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is its conversational tone and wonderful sense of humour. From scavenger beetles and bedbugs to scorpions and civets, every creature has a story to tell. The author mixes fascinating facts with amusing observations, quizzes, activities and little anecdotes that make the reading experience lively and interactive. The playful chapter titles and illustrations add to its charm, making it appealing to curious young readers.
The book also encourages children to look beyond what they see at first glance. Creatures that might ordinarily seem unpleasant or frightening become interesting once we understand their habits and their place in the natural world. I especially liked how the book combines scientific information with practical suggestions for observing wildlife around us.
Wild Next Door is an engaging blend of humour, science and environmental awareness. It would be a wonderful addition to a young reader’s bookshelf and an excellent resource for parents and teachers looking to nurture curiosity about nature. After reading it, even an ordinary garden might begin to look like a world waiting to be explored!
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is its conversational tone and wonderful sense of humour. From scavenger beetles and bedbugs to scorpions and civets, every creature has a story to tell. The author mixes fascinating facts with amusing observations, quizzes, activities and little anecdotes that make the reading experience lively and interactive. The playful chapter titles and illustrations add to its charm, making it appealing to curious young readers.
The book also encourages children to look beyond what they see at first glance. Creatures that might ordinarily seem unpleasant or frightening become interesting once we understand their habits and their place in the natural world. I especially liked how the book combines scientific information with practical suggestions for observing wildlife around us.
Wild Next Door is an engaging blend of humour, science and environmental awareness. It would be a wonderful addition to a young reader’s bookshelf and an excellent resource for parents and teachers looking to nurture curiosity about nature. After reading it, even an ordinary garden might begin to look like a world waiting to be explored!
October 26, 2026
Wild Next Door is all about the little creatures we share our everyday spaces with, from garden insects and water beetle to birds and other backyard visitors we barely stop to notice. And this book makes you want to pay a little more attention to the world around you!
What I loved most was how informative it manages to be without ever feeling like a textbook. The writing is engaging, the facts are genuinely fascinating, and the illustrations are an absolute delight! Every creature has so much character, and the playful presentation makes learning about them feel like a little adventure of its own.
My favourite thing about this book is how it makes you look at the familiar differently. Suddenly, the tiny creatures in your garden or that little rustle in the bushes seem a lot more interesting. Nature doesn't always require a trip to the jungle; sometimes, there's a whole world waiting to be discovered right outside your door.
I kept thinking about how much a curious young reader would enjoy this one, and I've already decided to pass my copy along to my younger cousin. If a book can make you a little more curious about the world and encourage that curiosity in someone else, I think it's doing something pretty wonderful.
Thank you so much to @penguinindia and @arefa_tehsin for this lovely review copy!
What I loved most was how informative it manages to be without ever feeling like a textbook. The writing is engaging, the facts are genuinely fascinating, and the illustrations are an absolute delight! Every creature has so much character, and the playful presentation makes learning about them feel like a little adventure of its own.
My favourite thing about this book is how it makes you look at the familiar differently. Suddenly, the tiny creatures in your garden or that little rustle in the bushes seem a lot more interesting. Nature doesn't always require a trip to the jungle; sometimes, there's a whole world waiting to be discovered right outside your door.
I kept thinking about how much a curious young reader would enjoy this one, and I've already decided to pass my copy along to my younger cousin. If a book can make you a little more curious about the world and encourage that curiosity in someone else, I think it's doing something pretty wonderful.
Thank you so much to @penguinindia and @arefa_tehsin for this lovely review copy!
October 26, 2026
A wonderful, engaging little field guide that turns everyday backyards, balconies, and indoor corners into a thrilling safari for young readers and curious adults too!.
In Wild Next Door, Arefa Tehsin does a fantastic job of opening children's eyes to the urban biodiversity living right around us. From commonly overlooked tiny critters like wasps, crickets, and silverfish to familiar neighborhood birds and garden creatures, the book covers a rich mix of local fauna.
What makes it work so well is the approach. Tehsin blends natural history facts with lighthearted humor, interactive quizzes, and fun activities. Instead of fueling the usual fears or aversions we might have toward creepy-crawlies, the book completely demystifies them, replacing squeamishness with genuine fascination.
Adding to the charm are the beautiful illustrations throughout, which make it super easy for kids to spot, identify, and connect with the creatures they are reading about. A must-read to foster early curiosity, empathy, and a love for the natural world right outside our doorstep!
In Wild Next Door, Arefa Tehsin does a fantastic job of opening children's eyes to the urban biodiversity living right around us. From commonly overlooked tiny critters like wasps, crickets, and silverfish to familiar neighborhood birds and garden creatures, the book covers a rich mix of local fauna.
What makes it work so well is the approach. Tehsin blends natural history facts with lighthearted humor, interactive quizzes, and fun activities. Instead of fueling the usual fears or aversions we might have toward creepy-crawlies, the book completely demystifies them, replacing squeamishness with genuine fascination.
Adding to the charm are the beautiful illustrations throughout, which make it super easy for kids to spot, identify, and connect with the creatures they are reading about. A must-read to foster early curiosity, empathy, and a love for the natural world right outside our doorstep!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews