It’s a fun time of year to choose books, so we’ve chosen some favourites, for everyone from peek-a-boo toddlers to speedy preschoolers and adventure-loving book-gobblers.
Clicking on the covers will take you straight to our online shop: or of course, visit your local bookshop!
For the toddler who loves peek-a-boo | Age 1–3
These board books are built for sharing, from word play to jumping. Toddlers love this version of dominoes from the beloved Noisy Book.
![](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9781776574025_CVR-300x300.jpg)
![](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/The-Wolf-and-the-Fly-cover-290x300.jpg)
![Jump! A boardbook for babies and todllers. From Gecko Press](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jump-cover-300x297.jpg)
![Noisy Dominoes Box Cover Gecko Press](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Noisy-Dominoes_HR-Cover-231x300.jpg)
For the zippy preschooler | Age 3–5
These picture books all feature intriguing vehicles and are great to read aloud loudly and often become part of the family.
![Gecko Press cover image Who's Driving by Leo Timmers](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WhosDriving-300x218.jpg)
For the child who creates stories in the garden | Age 3–6
Where the main character makes stories out of the everyday.
![Tiny Woman's Coat](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9781776573424_CVR-300x300.jpg)
![Song of the River. A Picture book for children by Joy Cowley](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Song-of-the-River-cover-300x297.jpg)
![Lisette’s Green Sock](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Lisettes-Green-Sock-cover-min-275x300.jpg)
![Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest cover](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Dulcinea-in-the-Forbidden-Forest-cover-LR-245x300.jpg)
For those who know their paraweta from their patero | Age 1–7
These reo Māori editions of some much-loved stories are suitable for tamariki (and the young at heart) with a little or a lot of te reo — start with Koro and Hoihoi Turituri (age 1–3), build up to Paraweta and the rhymes of Te Hipo Huna (age 3–7).
![Hoihoi Turituri](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hoihoi-Turituri-cover-RGB-150x150.jpg)
![Koro cover](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9781776574018-1-150x150.jpg)
![Paraweta by Stephanie Blake. Gecko Press’s cheekiest rabbit is now in te reo Māori. A children's book for ages 3-5.](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Paraweta-cover-226x300.jpg)
![Te Hipo Huna](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9781776573103_CVR-300x291.jpg)
For the philosophers | Age 3 to infinity
For children who like to ask big important questions or think about things.
![A Mother Is a House](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/9781776573233_CVR-709x1024.jpg)
![Seasons book, Blexbolex, picture book for kids, book about the cycle of seasons](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Seasons-cover-gecko-207x300.jpg)
![Inside the Suitcase](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Inside-the-Suitcase-cover-low-res-RBG-284x300.jpg)
![No One Is Angry Today](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9781776573455_CVR-1-214x300.jpg)
For the reader who wakes up knowing this could be the most interesting day of their life so far
Age 6–9
These illustrated chapter books are for newly independent readers: Bruno takes life as it comes, Giraffe writes letters, Zanzibar achieves an incredible feat, and three siblings start a funeral company for animals.
![](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/All-the-Dear-Little-Animals-cover-LR.jpg)
![Bruno Cover Gecko Press](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Bruno_Cover_LR.jpg)
![Zanzibar by Catharina Valckx. An early chapter book published by Gecko Press](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Zanzibar-cover-rough-211x300.jpg)
![yours sincerely giraffe book, Megumi Iwasa, Jun Takabatake, chapter books for kids](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Yours-Sincerely-Giraffe-cover-LR-215x300.jpg)
For the fact-collector | Age 7+
These striking non-fiction hardbacks are suitable for visual learners and fact gatherers of all ages: choose world history, architecture, dinosaurs or science.
![H.O.U.S.E book, Aleksandra Machowiak, Daniel Mizielinski, non-fiction book for kids, book about contemporary architecture for kids](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/HOUSE_frontcover.jpg)
![Fossils from Lost Worlds](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/9781776573158_CVR-804x1024.jpg)
![timeline book, Peter Goes, illustrated history book, history book for kids](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/TimeLine_Cover_SMALL-217x300.jpg)
![](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Timeline-Science-and-Technology-cover-rough-219x300.jpg)
For adventure-loving book gobblers | Age 8–12
Gripping novels where children put the world to rights, explore the icy wilderness, rescue family and break a few rules.
![The Runaways by Ulf Stark. A children's novel by Gecko Press](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/The-Runaways-cover-210x300.jpg)
![](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/The-Mapmakers-Race_cover-low-res-198x300.jpg)
![The Uprising - The Mapmakers in Cruxcia cover](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9781776574049_CVR-194x300.jpg)
![](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Ice-Sea-Pirates-UK-cover-LR-197x300.jpg)
For everyone who can’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve
These books will help us all snuggle down to sleep: two for small children and two storybooks.
![Shhh! I'm sleeping book, Dorothee de Monfreid, boardbook for preschoolers, book about sharing a bedroom](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Shhh-Im-Sleeping_cover-160x300.jpg)
![Tickle My Ears. Best Boardbooks](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Tickle-My-Ears-cover-LR-300x300.jpg)
![Good Night Sleep Tight Kristina Andres Gecko Press](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Good-Night-Sleep-Tight-cover-241x300.jpg)
![](https://geckopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Stories-of-the-Night-cover-low-res-249x300.jpg)
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