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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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.

10 questions about grannies that need answers: competition

After reading The Encyclopedia of Grannies, curiously good readers from Wardini Books’s 7-to-9-year-old Book Club came up with new questions for the ‘Wisdom’ page.

Harsu & the Werestoat Review

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

This is such a gripping, marvellous book I can’t wait for you to discover its magical highways, its fascinations and its gripping secrets. I do hope this is the first of a series! Highly recommended.

Favourite time-travel or fantasy junior adventure novels list by Barbara Else

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

With Barbara Else’s Harsu and the Werestoat release this month, we asked Barbara about her favourite time-travel books for middle-readers that Harsu’s fans could also enjoy. It is a great list of books worth checking at your favourite book store or library.

2019 Storylines Notable List Winners

The Mapmakers’ Race, Cook’s Cook and Oink have been selected for the 2019 Storylines Notable Books List. The awards ceremony was in Auckland yesterday. Congratulations to Eirlys Hunter, Gavin Bishop and David Elliot. You can view the entire list here.  

Harsu & the Werestoat: Q&A with Barbara Else

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

In the ancient story of Beowulf, the hero kills a dreadful monster then discovers that the monster’s mother is a thousand times worse. I’ve often thought, if his mother was so terrible, what chance did the poor monster ever have to grow up normal and nice? My own story became one of a boy who manages to choose the right way to live.

Oink – The New York Times Review

Oink by David Elliot. best books for Children. Funny children's book about a bath.

The delicacy and subtlety of the art only adds to the frisky humor.

8 books about grannies from booksellers (plus one encyclopedia)

Encyclopedia of Grannies by Eric Veillé. A book for kids published by Gecko Press

This month we release Eric Veillé’s Encyclopedia of Grannies, a book that recognises that grannies come in all shapes and varieties and celebrates them all. Every page brings something unexpected: granny yoga positions, playing hide and seek at granny’s place, how to cheer up a sad granny, knitting ideas, hairdos, staying up late to view… Read more »

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