A bit of funny goes a long way. At Gecko Press we have a fondness for books that appeal to children with a dry sense of humour.
Today’s gift guide features books that bring smiles to our faces and a giggle or two from our bellies, whatever our age.
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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Emma’s gift guide for little books
Some books are a perfect fit for small hands. Today we’re sharing our gift guide featuring books that are small in size but big in story and imagination. Click on the covers to go straight to our online shop: or of course, visit your local bookshop. When you order you can add a note if… Read more »
Sarah’s gift guide for young animal lovers
Discover a selection of animal stories perfect for gift-giving this season.
Today we’re sharing our gift guide featuring some books that we think will please any animal-loving young reader.
Shona’s great read-alouds gift guide
It’s the perfect time of year to create magical memories of reading aloud together. Today we’re sharing our gift guide featuring some books that we think make great read-alouds. Click on the covers to go straight to our online shop: or of course, visit your local bookshop. When you order you can add a note… Read more »
Hilary Tapper on creating a beach storybook
Kia ora! Hilary here, the illustrator of At the Bach.
Creating this book was a really special process for me—I got to focus on creating a book about the delight of ‘baches’ in New Zealand culture.
Rachel’s gift guide for close observers
It’s a fun time of year to choose gifts for readers. Over the next three weeks, we are sharing our 2023 gift guide featuring some good books that we love.
Finalist in Italy’s premier children’s book prize
Eirlys Hunter is off to Rome this December for the awards ceremony of Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi 2023, where The Mapmakers’ Race is one of three finalists in the 11+ category.
The Grizzled Grist a 2023 White Raven
Each year the International Youth Library based in Munich, Germany publishes a catalogue called the White Ravens with a selection of notable books from around the world.
The Grizzled Grist Does Not Exist by Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis was selected as a White Raven 2023—the only Aotearoa New Zealand book to be selected.
The creation of Have You Seen Dinosaur?
This month we’re celebrating the release of my latest picture book Have You Seen Dinosaur?, lovingly published by the wonderful Gecko Press. So in honour of this event I’d like to invite you into my studio.
Giselle Clarkson’s life as an observologist
Hello! I’m Giselle, author and illustrator of The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions.
I’m absolutely fascinated by all the smallest details in nature. I especially love tiny invertebrates. I wrote this book because I want to share all my favourite things about them with other people.
