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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An award-winning Hippopotamus… signed by the author and illustrator!

Gecko Press square image from That's Not A Hippopotamus

A big congratulations to Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis for their Best Picture Book win! To celebrate, the next 5 orders of That’s Not A Hippopotamus!  on our website will be signed. Better be quick! book shop

An award-winning Hippopotamus!

that's not a hippopotamus book, Juliette MacIver, childrens picture book, book about a hippopotamus

That’s Not A Hippopotamus wins Best Picture Book at the 2017 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Diverse Cabbage: Julia on cross-cultural reading for The Sapling

Gecko Press spot art from When I am Happiest, Dani reads a blue book with a cat and two guinea pigs

If reading is a bowl of cabbage, then we need to serve it with salt and pepper and garlic and butter and chilli and vinegar. Julia Marshall describes the importance of diverse reading at The Sapling.

Simon the Rabbit, TV star!

Poo Bum Simon on TV

Simon, the cheeky rabbit who only says “Poo Bum!”, comes to TV.

Tell us about your favourite scary book and go in the draw!

Gecko Press art from A Day with Dogs

Every piece of writing or art inspired by a favourite Gecko Press book or character goes in the draw to with a copy of Cornelia and the Jungle Machine!

Curiously Good Event: Publishers at Unity Books

Gecko Press book club event at Unity Books

Celebrate the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults with Unity Books.

Curiously Good Event: Reading aloud

Good books to read alout by Gecko Press event

Download a tips and tricks sheet from our Curiously Good reading aloud event.

Behind the scenes with Paul Beavis!

Paul Beavis Gecko Press

How do you make a picture book? What happens when things aren’t going to plan? How do you get through the longest to-do list in the world? Paul Beavis, award-winning author and illustrator, takes us behind the scenes over at The Sapling.  We’re particularly fond of stage 5!  

Helper and Helper visit the Marlborough Book Festival

Gavin Bishop snake and lizard picture book prints

A free session with Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop at the Marlborough Book Festival.

Annual is a PANZ Book Design Awards winner… times three!

Children's book reading aloud tips

Annual has won the Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children’s Book, the Mary Egan Publishing Award for Best Typography, and the first Hachette New Zealand People’s Choice Award. A big congratulations to Spencer Levine, and to all of the winners and finalists. How lovely to have your beautiful books celebrated. To read more, visit… Read more »

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