About the Author

Sami Bayly is a natural history illustrator based in Newcastle, NSW, who loves all things weird and wonderful. She finds the beauty and importance of all animals regardless of their appearance, and hopes to share her appreciation with others. Sami's first book, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals, won the Children's Indie Book of the Year Award and the Australian Book Design Award for Younger Readers. It was a CBCA Honour Book and was shortlisted for an ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children and longlisted for the ABA Booksellers' Choice 2020 Book of the Year Awards. Her second book, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, was a CBCA Honour Book, an ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children, won an Australian Book Design Award for Younger Readers and was shortlisted for the Children's Indie Book of the Year 2020. The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs was shortlisted for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award and longlisted for Children's Indie Book of the Year Award. Sami's most recent books are How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures and How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage. To keep up to date you can follow Sami on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samibayly

Reviews

'A great book to read with children and learn more about how plant and animal species rely on each other.'--NSW [PRINT] The Sydney Morning Herald

'This awesome book is full of surprising facts about peculiar pairs in nature, helping each other, or at least helping themselves!'--NATIONAL [PRINT] Kookie Magazine

'The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature will join its earlier releases in the series as one of the most borrowed and requested books in a classroom, school or public library as it offers the reader so much in terms of visual appeal and incredible information. A wonderful gift for a birthday or Christmas present.'--NATIONAL [ONLINE] ReadPlus

'A gorgeous hardcover book by a 25-year-old illustrator named Sami Bayly who is based in country NSW, and who is without peer when it comes to drawing Australia's ugliest - her word! - animals.'--NATIONAL [PRINT] The Weekend Australian, Review [AUDIENCE: 219,242, ASR: 44,631]

'From the friendly to the downright gross, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature explores in colourful detail the unusual relationships found in nature.'--WA [PRINT] The West Australian, ED! Magazine

Review--NATIONAL [PRINT] Weekend Australian, [AUDIENCE: 219,242, ASR: 2,171]

Review--WA [PRINT] West Australian [AUDIENCE: 135,996, ASR: 4,661]