Gecko Press Blog

Welcome to a combobulation of articles from our favourite thinkers, stories from behind the scenes, lists of good books, Gecko Press news and things that amuse us from time to time.

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How do you turn kids into bookworms – The Guardian

What books made you a reader? And how do you turn kids into bookworms? 10 children’s laureates shared their tips their tips with The Guardian readers.

‘Short Books for Kids That Make a Big Impact’, New York Times – The Runaways reviewed

The Runaways by Ulf Stark. A children's novel by Gecko Press

Written by the beloved Swedish author Ulf Stark and generously illustrated by the Belgian artist Kitty Crowther, a winner of the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and translated from the Swedish by Julia Marshall, THE RUNAWAYS (Gecko, 144 pp., $17.99; ages 6 to 11) also depicts a culture that will seem very different to most… Read more »

The Runaways – New York Times Review

The Runaways by Ulf Stark. A children's novel by Gecko Press

The writing is unflashy and deadpan except for when it’s unflashy and musical. Crowther’s bright, naïve pencil illustrations fit the offbeat text.

Clotilde Perrin and Eric Veillé visit Christchurch – Agnew Reading report

Visiting children’s book artists always have the difficulty of trying to address two groups – the children who read their books and the adults who buy them. Touring French picture book artists Eric Veillé and Clotilde Perrin dealt with the problem with Gallic aplomb.

Renowned French illustrators visit NZ

Award-winning French picture book author-illustrators Clotilde Perrin (Inside the Villains) and Eric Veillé (Encyclopedia of Grannies and My Pictures after the Storm) are touring New Zealand in May for the Embassy of France’s Les Petits Kiwis (Reading Kiwis) Festival in association with Gecko Press, Alliance Francaise and Institut Francais.

Harsu & the Werestoat – NZ Booklovers review

Harsu and the Wherestoat. A Children's novel by Barbara Else. Published by Gecko Press

Harsu and the Werestoat is a surprising read. Else has built a fantastical world, rich in detail and imagination. It is a book that will delight those that tumble into Harsu’s world.

Wolfy and The Visitor are in the Best Children’s Books of the Year list

Wolfy Gregoire Solotareff bestselling picture book

We are happy to announce that Wolfy and The Visitor were both included in the Children’s Book Committee Best Children’s Books of the Year list.

Encyclopedia of Grannies: Q&A with Eric Veillé

Encyclopedia of Grannies geckopress

Meet Eric Veillé and check his new book, Encyclopedia of Grannies, which is an offbeat book full of word play and humour, answering all your questions about grandmas – especially the ones you never thought to ask.

Inside the Villains is shortlisted for the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards 2019

Inside the Villains, A Children's Book by Gecko Press

We are pleased to announce that Inside the Villains by Clotilde Perrin is in shortlist for the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards 2019 in Non-Fiction 7 – 11 nomination.

“I only recognise what I have not yet seen” The art of the book fair

For Gecko Press, we are looking for what we call curiously good books — books of strong character and good heart, with stories that parents and children will want to read hundreds of times. We are looking for books we feel we haven’t seen before with a harmonious combination of picture and story that sets up an immense hum, larger than the sum of its parts.

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