Books published by GECKO PRESS

A sturdy, fat, little board book, just the right size for the tiny fingers of pre-readers.

A modern fairytale storybook set in the magical illustrated world of Astrid Lindgren Award recipient Kitty Crowther

Giraffe is bored, as usual. He'd love a friend to share things with. So he writes a letter and sends it as far as possible across the other side of the horizon. There he finds a pen pal-Penguin.Giraffe knows nothing about penguins and his letters are full of questions. Where is a penguin's neck? Can a penguin fly? Penguin answers as best he can.But no one expects what happens when the pen pals come face to face at last.An enduring bestseller in its native Japan, Yours Sincerely, Giraffe is a funny tale of mistaken assumptions and friendship.

A very sturdy, fun boardbook for babies and toddlers.

An exuberant rhyming picture book about a school trip to the woods, where no one sees the danger-apart from quiet Liam, who pays attention and saves the day with his particular skill of hiding.

A twist on the classic cry wolf story in the best-selling series about Simon, the cheeky rabbit, who always gets what he wants.

An hilarious story about sibling rivalry and a child's impulse to run away from home-(and come back again!)"e;When my squawking baby brother arrived, I realized I needed a new family. No one seemed to mind when I packed my bag. I took a box and used my best handwriting to write 'FREE KID', then waited for some new parents to take me home."e;Waiting in a box like an abandoned pet and encountering the passersby changes the girl's perspective. At the end of the day, when her parents pretend they need an older sister for their new baby, she is ready to leave her box and go happily back home.In this comical twist on sibling rivalry, a girl decides she needs a new family-so she writes Free Kid on a box and waits in the street for some better parents to choose her.Translated from the Japanese edition, this accessible story is perfect for children starting on independent reading and is illustrated in a graphic comic style that really captures childlike subversive humor. Ideal for fans of Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip. A useful book to teach young children about welcoming a new baby sibling to the family, or exploring playful sibling relationships, through funny and lighthearted storytelling.

In this pithy board book series, an overenthusiastic, impulsive lion tests his daily routines to their limit-in Lionel Poops, cheerfully trying all sorts of places to poop before ending up proudly on the potty.

A warm and comforting board book that shows the bond between grandfather and child in powerful images: a small hand in a big one, big boots and little, some food from the garden, story time and a nap to finish.

A follow-up to the internationally successful The Mapmakers' Race-the Santander children are drawn into a community's rebellion against a despot and use their mapping skills to avert an environmental scam.

An illustrated collection of thought-provoking stories about how anger doesn't always have to be angry

A small and cozy book leaving preschoolers snug as a bug, from award-winning author, Joy Cowley. The tiny woman makes a coat of leaves with the help of her animal friends. The trees, geese, porcupine, horse and plants all share something so the tiny woman can snip, snip, snip and stitch, stitch, stitch a coat to keep herself warm.Friendship and sharing are at the heart of this warm and simple rhythmic poem by one of the world's best children's writers. A perfectly cozy hardback storybook to read-aloud and share with babies, toddlers and preschoolers who will delight in everything tiny and small, including the fresh and funny illustrations by award-winning illustrator Giselle Clarkson."e;Now I have a new favourite cosy read to add to my collection."e; -The Times UK, Children's Book of the WeekJoy Cowley is one of New Zealand's best-loved writers for children and adults, and her stories are loved around the world. She has won a multitude of awards and honors for her bestselling books, including the Prime Minister's Award for contribution to literature. She was shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018.Giselle Clarkson is an illustrator and comic artist based in New Zealand. She illustrated Egg and Spoon: An Illustrated Cookbook by Alexandra Tylee which won the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and The Gobbledegook Book: A Joy Cowley Anthology.Praise for The Tiny Woman's Coat"e;An inventive and delightful tale that evokes Thumbelina, The Borrowers, and other beloved wee characters."e;-Kirkus Reviews"e;Now I have a new favourite cozy read to add to my collection ... Giselle Clarkson's evocative illustrations tell another story of the powers of collectivism."e;-The Times

A lockdown bestseller and high spirited story about an enterprising only child and a single-father's juggle to work from home. Mika's father works from home and he's very busy! He can never find time for the promised swimming trip. So Dad allows Mika to choose a pet from the store while he finishes the project-something quiet like a mouse. And so begins a wonderfully turbulent story in which Mika brings home one animal after another The mouse gets lost so they need a dog to find it. The dog is followed by a seal, the seal a penguin. One pet for Mika leads to another and another. How many animals can come to stay before a harassed father notices?A relatable, cheerful and wild picture book for families during lockdown, with a single-parent juggling working from home and childcare. Celebrating Mika's initiative and creativity, this is a fun and absurd story ideal for 5-7 year olds to read independently or together. Featuring a single dad working from home and gender neutral child, Mika, this picture book allows young readers of all ages to identify with diverse characters. "e;Absolutely hilarious."e;-Kirkus ReviewsConstanze Spengler is an author and illustrator living in Germany.Katja Gehrmann writes and illustrates children's books. She studied illustration in Mexico, Spain and Germany, where she now lives.Praise for Seahorses Are Sold Out:"e;Lively, colorful illustrations drawn in loose black outlines track this incredible saga of a bored kid, an opportunistic pet-shop owner, and a clueless father in comic double-page spreads chronicling Mika's wild, unsupervised activities, culminating in a surprising climax. Absolutely hilarious."e;-Kirkus Reviews"e;Here is a book that shows a single Dad and never uses a pronoun for its protagonist all whilst being an entertaining page turner in a longer picture book format. It is also a celebration of children's independence and ingenuity."e;-Love Four Learning"e;This fun picture book shows how independent our young people can be, and how sometimes bedlam can follow."e;-Schools and Libraries Association New Zealand Aotearoa

Pablo is a fresh and funny story for babies and toddlers about stepping out on your own into a bright new world. With the little chick Pablo, we discover our five senses and take a first flight.