I am particularly fond of books which feature kind characters, especially when those books are for children and young people. Here are some that are new and some that have been part of my life for a long time.
Book list: Stories that teach kindness
Giselle Clarkson on illustrating The Gobbledegook Book
I’ve lived my whole life with Joy Cowley’s stories and was totally stunned when I was invited into the Gecko Press office and asked if I’d like to illustrate a collection of them. I felt pretty daunted, but also very excited and I couldn’t wait to start drawing.
Book list: Intrepid explorers
Winter 2019 is the season of intrepid explorers in Gecko Press books: from Cam in Song of the River to Otto in Otto Goes North, from Zanzibar to The Runaways. And keep an eye out for Cornelia and the Jungle Machine later in the year.
We asked Katie at Time Out Bookstore in Auckland to recommend some stories for adventurers of all ages.
“I like to exploit and stretch an idea until it reaches breaking point”, Leo Timmers
Leo Timmers’ new book, Monkey on the Run, has all the characteristics of his picture books. As an illustrator, Leo asks the reader to look—then look again, and again. He uses collisions, movement, problem-solving, colour and humour in his plot. Here he talks about how Monkey on the Run developed as a story, even demanding new technique.
Classroom read-alouds for all ages
A book read aloud in the classroom can stay with a child for a lifetime. I can still conjure the beautiful Scottish voice of one brilliant reader-alouder from my primary school, forty years later. My children frequently recommend books their teachers have read them—and hunt them down for re-reading. They both went to Te Kura… Read more »
Curiously Good End of Year Party
Gecko Press warmly invites you to toast the festive season with us! When: Saturday 25 November 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm: come along with your children for storytime, workshops with Juliette MacIver (from 3 yrs) & Paul Beavis (from 9 yrs), do some Christmas shopping – The Children’s Bookshop staff will give you their best advice! 7.30 pm to late: enjoy drinks (homemade Curiously Good… Read more »
Curiously Good Event: Juliette MacIver at Scorpio Books
What rhymes with Hippopotamus? This Bookshop Day, come and try out your best rhymes with Juliette MacIver in Christchurch.
Curiously Good Event: Pizza and books
Our most recent Curiously Good Book Club event brought reading (and pizza) to three primary schools.
Curiously Good Book Club Event: Reading-alouding!
Come to Porirua Library and learn how to be a a good reader-alouder!
The Curiously Good Book Club – thank you to everyone so far!
Gecko Press is in the last days of our crowdfunding campaign to help build the Curiously Good Book Club – the deadline is 6 pm June 21. The aim of the Club is simple – that every child loves to read. To do that, we want to take books to places and people where they are not… Read more »
