Wild Next Door | Author Arefa Tehsin's New Book on Wildlife For the Young and the Curious
UdaipurTimes, September 4, 2026 | Book Release News: From the author of The Great Indian Safari and Wild in the Backyard, Arefa Tehsin, comes Wild Next Door for the young and curious. Packed with fascinating facts and stunning illustrations, this book opens the door to the strange, surprising and wonderful world of animals. Arefa introduces readers to creatures that are weird, wild and utterly unforgettable, making every page a joyful discovery.
Perfect for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, inquisitive minds and budding young explorers, Wild Next Door encourages adults and children to look more closely at the world around them—and realise that the wild is never too far away.
More about the book:
Your backyard is buzzing—meet the wild, weird, wonderful neighbours you never noticed.
From porch-loving hornets and wall-munching termites to night-time popstars in the garden and a fish that seems to know how to walk, these are the critters who share our homes, beds, and heads (yes, really).
You’ll spot shiny skinks sunbathing, earthworms with many hearts in the soil, beetles rolling balls of poop, and bright guppies swimming in rainbow colours. There are fireflies with glowing bottoms, a chick that keeps a super-messy nest, and even a flatworm that can grow back if it’s cut in half! Some of these critters work hard, some sleep a lot, some have long sticky tongues and some can smell your breath when they come close for a tiny sip of blood.
So put on your explorer hat and get ready to find the secret, surprising world of creatures living right beside you!
About the author:
Arefa Tehsin spent her childhood treading the Aravalli jungles with her naturalist father. As a child, she was often found trying to catch a snake or spin a yarn. She grew up to be a storyteller and was appointed the honorary wildlife warden of Udaipur for a term. She is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, and writes columns and articles for various dailies and magazines. A dreamer as well as a rationalist, she is a serial traveller who dreams of an endless journey—starting with Planet Earth. (Irrational for a rationalist? Ask her companion, Aditya!) To know more about her writing, visit www.arefatehsin.com.
