Gecko Press Blog

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is a cornerstone of the Gecko Press business, and it was magnificent for me and Julia to be back under the porticos in Italy this March—four years since the last visit!

We frequently follow Gordon’s policies on small cakes, namely to introduce one to a situation wherever possible. To mark the final book in this junior fiction series, we collected five of our (other) favourite wisdoms.

The Scottish Book Trust has selected Tickle My Ears by Jörg Mϋhle for their Bookbug Toddler Bag for 2023. These are given to every child in Scotland to help them develop a love of stories and reading from an early age.

Over 40,000 copies will be sent out to toddlers throughout Scotland this year, along with a couple of other books and learning materials.

I think pre-pubescent children should marvel at how amazing their bodies are. In the book, I wanted to focus on this great body-home that we live in, that we sense the world with and that is always changing in mysterious ways.

Look – A Tummy Time Book by Gavin Bishop has been selected for the dPictus 100 Outstanding Picturebooks 2023.

What were the challenges of the translation process? I am really enthusiastic about the translation and even find the story funnier in English. Some of the punchlines work better because the sentences are shorter in English.

Written by Julia Marshall, founder of Gecko Press.

We are celebrating the life of Wolf Erlbruch, who died this week aged 75.

Duck, Death and the Tulip is a pivotal book for Gecko Press, one of the books I am most proud to have on our list.

By Rachel Lawson, Publisher at Gecko Press.

Every book is a careful process of translation, editing, design, layout, proofreading and printing — with small and big decisions from all of those involved and at every stage that change how the book will be for its readers. Here are ten decisions that I’ll remember from the year we’ve had.

Louise Cambau, South Ken Kids Festival curator I have been curating the South Ken Kids Festival for the past 6 years. This is a Franco-British children’s book festival organised yearly at the Institut Français in London, celebrating 25 years in 2022, under Sir Quentin Blake’s patronage. Amongst other things, the Institut organises literary events throughout… Read more »

What led you to create Simon’s world? Once I had Simon, everything clicked, and I was no longer working with the abstract idea of writing a book or making beautiful images. Books became my second language and Simon an extension of myself. I had a new freedom to play with words and images. I allowed myself to write the way I wanted to.