The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals

A CBCA EVE POWNALL AWARD NOTABLE BOOK 2025

Discover the incredible features and characteristics of some of the natural world’s most fascinating extinct and critically endangered animals in the latest gorgeously illustrated hardcover encyclopaedia from award-winning author and illustrator Sami Bayly.

Pore over beautifully detailed illustrations of some of the most fascinating extinct and critically endangered animals in the natural world. Discover how these species fit into the history of the animal kingdom and why they have become extinct or are under threat.

Featuring facts and astonishing illustrations about sixty amazing animals, including the Western black rhino, thylacine, dodo, South Island giant moa and Tapanuli orangutan, as well as megafauna such as the giant wombat-like diprotodon and the crocodile-like Quinkana. Plus creatures with mysterious origins like Delcourt’s giant gecko.

Children and adults alike will wonder at the contribution these animals have made to the natural world while being reminded of the importance of wildlife conservation.

’Stunningly illustrated and deeply informative’ THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY

’Beautiful and detailed . . . A treasure trove, ideal for 8-year-olds and older who are interested in natural history and fascinating creatures’ SCHOOLDAYS MAGAZINE

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