Oink
ISBN 9781776572144
Regular price $21.99by David Elliot
A comical story about a very busy bath.
A comical story akin to Five Minutes' Peace about a very busy bath. Pig is having a lovely bath. In come Sheep, Cow, Horse....They are very noisy! What can Pig do to make them go away? Pig must think of something smart and quick.
Hardcover, 32 pages. 9.4 x 7.2 inches.
Recommended for children ages 2-5 years.
Gecko Press.
Reviews
"Can four animals share a bathtub? Not if the pig protagonist, who utters a satisfied 'Oink!" upon spotting the empty, large, white, claw-foot tub, has anything to say about it. No sooner is the pig in the water than: 'Knock! Knock!' A sheep in a frilly pink skirt enters: 'Maaa?' Is this a polite request to enter the bath? The pig doesn't answer but looks unhappy as the sheep climbs in and proceeds to splash. Another 'Knock! Knock!' and a large, horned bovine wearing a shower cap and long yellow trunks appears. The bovine says 'Moo?'; the sheep answers 'Maaa!'; the pig just glowers. How could things get worse? Well, a donkey in another outlandish bathing costume shows up with a 'Hee haw?' Soon the animal companions are talking up a storm, save for the poor pig—but in a completely wordless spread, the tables turn. With a few expressive pencil lines emanating from the water, Elliot finds a way for the pig to regain privacy. The surprised and then disgusted looks on the other animals' faces, their accusatory animal-sound questions, and then their huffy departures tell the story perfectly. The soft pencil-and-watercolor drawings are masterful in their simple details, and kids will enjoy telling the tale themselves, intoning the animal sounds in different ways to heighten the drama of the story. Told only in animal dialect and sound effects but with brilliant visual details, this story will become a bathtime favorite."—starred, Kirkus Reviews
"A little pig ('Oink!') climbs into a giant clawfoot bathtub and settles in for a soak, but then someone knocks at the bathroom door. A little sheep ('Maaa?') with a toy boat comes in. Another knock heralds the arrival of a large cow ('Moo?') with a beach ball and shower cap, and then a donkey arrives ('Hee haw?') with a life preserver. All the animals seem to take a more-the-merrier approach to bath time, except the pig, who looks comically more defeated with every page turn. Told only through small-scale art and the animal and door sounds, the story uses smart pacing and energetic line work with muted washes of color to draw out the droll humor throughout. The bath activity escalates, halting abruptly at every knock on the door, and then gets wilder still as the art takes up progressively more of the page. Just when the splashy bath scene becomes a real party, with the art expanding to fill full-bleed double-page spreads, some smelly fumes bubble up from the water. Covering their noses, the disgusted animals begin pointing hooves at one another and indignantly stalk off, one by one. Alone at last, the pig once again relaxes in the bath—and passes a little more gas for good measure. Classic bath-time antics!"—The Horn Book Magazine
Bathtime for Little Rabbit
ISBN 9781776571376
Regular price $12.99 Sale price $12.50 Save 4%From the author of the worldwide bestseller Tickle My Ears, comes an award-winning, interactive boardbook about bathtime.
Who enjoys having their ears washed? Little Rabbit doesn’t like the idea, but it turns out to be not so bad after all. But he does need your young reader’s help. When the blow-dryer breaks, we must blow his ears dry. Wfffff! Keep blowing! Now wrap him in the towel and bathtime is over. Squeaky clean, Little Rabbit!
Jörg Mühle has created another sweet and simple bunny boardbook that invites children to take charge of bathtime with fun activities on every page. Children can help turn on the shower, cover Little Rabbit’s eyes, wipe the water off his nose. Fun for everyone: babies and toddlers, parents and bunnies!
Designed to be read aloud, this tried-and-true, surprising book will get young children excited about bathtime. Teaching toddlers and preschoolers about bathtime routines, it also makes a perfect baby shower or infant birthday gift. Adults never tire of their child’s enthusiastic washing and wfffing!
Jörg Mühle was born 1973 in Frankfurt am Main and studied at the Offenbach School of Design and the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Today, he lives in Frankfurt where he works as a freelance illustrator for book publishers, magazines and newspapers.
Translated by Catherine Chidgey
Board book, 20 pages. 6.8 x 6.8 inches.
Gecko Press.
Reviews:
"This funny, sweet, reassuring and empowering little board book about bathtime is perfection." ~ Playing by the Book (UK)
"Prompts such as “cover his eyes” or “rub in the shampoo” make the bath an enjoyable experience for the small animal, and young listeners will learn some bathtime routines, too." ~ School Library Journal
"A simple and thoroughly ‘kid friendly’ delight." ~ Midwest Book Review
"The illustrations are soft and the text sparse making this the perfect read for newborns right through to preschoolers." ~ My Best Friends Are Books
"The illustrations are simple, expressive and humorous. The vibrant colour pallet sports primary colours which draws the reader in and encourages him/her to participate Little Rabbit’s bathtime ritual." ~ Storywraps
"Young ones see just how easy and safe it is to have a bath and have heaps of fun too. A lovely, warm and reassuring book to share and enjoy." ~ Book Trailers 4 Kids and YA
"Muhle has done a great job of taking a simple concept and not overcomplicating matters. By doing so he has created a series of books that can be translated into a multitude of languages and still work as the book speaks perfect baby. With all the different fun actions to partake in as you go through the book, this is one story that both adults and children will enjoy with the added benefit of improving bathtime for all." ~ The Bookbag
"Gives toddlers a sense of power and control over their lives they perhaps don’t often experience at that age. This funny, sweet, reassuring and empowering little board book about bathtime is perfection." ~ Playing by the Book
Poor Little Rabbit
ISBN 9781776571772
Regular price $12.99 Sale price $12.50 Save 4%Written by Jörg Mühle; Translated by Catherine Chidgey
From the author of the worldwide bestseller Tickle My Ears, comes a companion, interactive boardbook about a child helping their rabbit feel better.
Oh no, Little Rabbit has hurt his arm. And there’s blood! Can you help him? Blow gently three times, try a band-aid, a rhyme, but he’s still crying… Let’s give his ears a stroke and wipe his tears. There, all better! Off you go, Little Rabbit!
This sweet and simple boardbook invites children to help Little Rabbit feel better after he has fallen over, by taking part in a fun activity on each page.
Designed to be read aloud together, this fun book teaches toddlers and preschoolers about caring for someone who is hurt, showing empathy and kindness. Young children will delight in their role in putting a smile back on bunny’s face. They’ll know what to do when they fall over now too.
A perfect first book for babies or toddlers.
Jörg Mühle was born 1973 in Frankfurt am Main and studied at the Offenbach School of Design and the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Today, he lives in Frankfurt where he works as a freelance illustrator for book publishers, magazines and newspapers.
Translated by Catherine Chidgey
Board book, 20 pages. 17 x 17 cm (6.8 x 6.8 inches).
Gecko Press.
Reviews:
"This brilliant board book invites a child to “help” someone else who’s hurting — which works wonders to induce a calmer state of mind. Little Rabbit has fallen down and scraped his arm, leaving a red mark. Your toddler is invited to “try blowing on it.” Uh-oh: On the next page, Little Rabbit wails, “There’s blood!” A Band-Aid (with bunnies on it, of course) appears. “Can you put it on?” comes next, but tears still stream down the distressed bunny’s face. And so on, until the bunny feels better — and, chances are, your toddler does too." ~ The New York Times
"Jorg Muhle’s “Poor Little Rabbit” is a perfectly simple, entertaining, and interactive board book for children ages 5 to 6 who love to take care of Little Rabbit. Like Jorg Muhle’s two previous board books, “Poor Little Rabbit” is unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, kindergarten, and community library board book collections." ~ Midwest Book Review
"I loved that Mühle weaves interactivity into the tale, inviting kids to blow on the wound, cover it with a bandaid etc. The artwork is perfectly aimed at toddlers too." ~ the Book Chook
"This delightful book and its predecessors appeal on several levels. The interactive components are fun, and foster kindness and empathy. But most of all, I love how empowering they are for children, who help Little Rabbit through experiences and activities they themselves may find challenging." ~ Otago Daily Times
Pablo
ISBN 9781776573240
Regular price $21.99 Sale price $19.80 Save 10%An immersive learning experience with Pablo, the little chick, as he discovers the world and many firsts.
Hardcover, 32 pages.
Gecko Press.
Reviews:
"Playing it safe, a chick decides to hatch bit by bit. With stark black images—mainly a black egg in center stage—set against a white background, Belgian author/illustrator Rascal tells the story of Pablo, the chick, as he hatches. As the story opens, Pablo is spending his last night in his shell. When morning comes, Pablo must gather his strength for the task ahead, and what better way than with a small croissant and a hot chocolate? The tone is set: Though the images may be black and white, Pablo is no black-and-white character. There is an endearing complexity to this cute little chick. 'A little bit scared' yet a little curious, 'Pablo starts with a little tiny hole.' One eye contemplates the world outside, then two. Bit by bit, he makes a hole for each ear, his beak, and then his legs. Now Pablo can see, hear, smell, and wander around. With an eighth and ninth hole his wings are freed, and he flies. 'He's not scared now!' Tempering bravery with caution, after emerging, Pablo saves a small piece of his shell, just in case. And what a good thing he does, as the last illustration shows a yellow chick sheltering from the rain under his shell/umbrella. Indeed, bravery is not a one-dimensional trait. Delightful—will surely bring smiles to readers' faces." — starred, Kirkus Reviews
"Utilizing black-and-white illustrations with bold shapes and sharp contrasts, Pablo is a sparse story about breaking out of your shell—literally. Pablo's big day has arrived: he has grown too big for his shell, and he is now ready to spread his wings in the world, albeit cautiously. With a touch of color at its close, the book reminds children that, even as they grow and change, a piece of home is always with them." — Foreword Reviews
About the Author:
Rascal is a leading Belgian illustrator and author of children's books. Enrolled by his parents in art school at the age of 12, he has since published more than 100 children's books and received international awards.
The Tiny Woman's Coat
ISBN 9781776573424
Regular price $23.99 Sale price $21.60 Save 10%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.
Recommended for Children ages 3 - 5 years.
Hardcover, 28 pages. 8.8 x 8.8 inches.
Gecko Press.
Reviews:
“Now I have a new favourite cosy read to add to my collection.” —The Times UK, Children’s Book of the Week
Praise for The Tiny Woman’s Coat
"An inventive and delightful tale that evokes Thumbelina, The Borrowers, and other beloved wee characters."—Kirkus Reviews
“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.”—The Times
About the Author & Illustrator:
Joy 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.
The Tiny Woman’s Coat: Q&A with Joy Cowley
Posted by Gecko Press
Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand’s best-loved writers for children and adults, with an international reputation.
She has won a multitude of awards and honours 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.
What inspired the story of the tiny woman without a coat?
A red leaf.
A friend sent me a letter with a red leaf that they had collected on a walk one day. It had the texture of fine cloth. I had it on my writing desk and would touch it every day and thought wouldn’t it be lovely to have a coat in that texture. It fell to pieces eventually.
Children are fascinated with small things. After decades of working with children and helping them to learn to read, I’ve noticed the gift of being small and so close to the ground. I’ve been asked “do frogs have toenails?” “Why do daffodils have yellow hairs?” Being small and seeing small and playing with small things the size of their hands—sometimes as big people we forget about these things.
And children are never small in their own eyes. Only their little brother or sister are small to them. Anyone who starts a story with “There was a little girl…” well, I don’t believe they know children very well!
The Tiny Woman’s Coat looks at the outside world through a child’s eyes and has been compared to Thumbelina and The Borrowers. Did you enjoy the process of magnifying the natural world for young readers?
I thought more about what would make the perfect make-believe materials for a tiny coat. I went through a list in my mind that way.
I wanted the story of The Tiny Woman’s Coat to be a song, so that it floated and had a lyrical effect. To not be a serious story, but a warm and lovely story about making and thinking like a child.
Do you hope the story inspires young children to explore their own back yard to look closely at the little treasures they might find?
I believe children do explore their own backyard anyway. But I hope everything they read inspires them in some way. Books should give children pleasure, extend their imaginations and make their hearts rejoice.
A book is a different thing for children than it is for adults. It’s a friend: they take it around the house with them, they tuck it under their T-shirt or pillow at night.
The story includes trees and animals, seasons and resourcefulness. What are some of your favourite books about the outdoors and the natural world?
Unfortunately I can’t read now, which is a tragedy. But when I was young, I was introduced to a world I didn’t know after reading May Gibbs’ Snugglepot & Cuddlepie. That world became real for me. My sister and I would run past banksia trees, believing the villains of the story were sitting in their branches. I believe environment books can become real for young children.
I also read A. A. Milne and memorised his rhymes because I wanted to hold them. When reading words like copse and spinney in Winnie the Pooh, I had no clue what they were exactly but just knew they were magical places.
This is your second collaboration with illustrator Giselle Clarkson. How is it to see different illustrators bring your stories to life in different ways?
I see illustrators as co-authors because that’s what they are! I often warn people at my writing workshops not to dictate to illustrators but to treat them as a co-author.
The definition of author is authority and creator and that’s what an illustrator is, bringing the story to life with pictures. I’m always delighted with the extra story that comes from the illustrator.
What’s one picture book you loved as a four-year-old?
I didn’t have books as a child. We moved around a lot and my family had only one book in the house—a Bible. Instead, I heard stories that my aunt would tell me and they often changed with each retelling.
I was eight-and-a-half years old before I read a book to myself. The Story about Ping gave me my reading skills. I read that book from beginning to end, then tucked it away in my desk. I just couldn’t bear to finish it. Then when I read it a second time I was surprised that it was the exact same story, unlike my Aunt’s storytelling that was different every time. With Ping, I discovered the constancy of print, that books do not change.
Do you believe in fairy people?
I believe a whole lot of living goes on outside our five senses.
I feed the sparrows in my garden every day, I talk to them, I tell the trees that they are beautiful (I’m not sure what the neighbours think). But I feel it is important to talk about perception not about absolute knowledge.
Waiting for Goliath
ISBN 9781776571413
Regular price $21.99 Sale price $19.80 Save 10%Written by Antje Damm. Translated by Sally-Ann Spencer.
A warm and surprising picture book for children about waiting for a friend.
Bear has been sitting and waiting since dawn. "I'm waiting for Goliath. He's my best friend." At last the bus pulls up, but no one gets out. "He'll definitely show up. You'll see!" The robins fly south and the first snow falls. When Bear wakes from a long sleep, he hears a noise like a hand sliding slowly across paper. Goliath is coming!
But Goliath's identity is a big surprise.
This is a warm and surprising story with depth and humour and luminous illustrations.
Recommended by the publisher for Ages 3 - 5 years. We ourselves find it lovely for even grade school children or adults. A timeless, universally touching book.
Hardcover, 32 pages. 10 x 7.8 inches.
Gecko Press, 2017.
About the Author:
Antje Damm is a celebrated children's writer and illustrator who lives in Germany. Her book Ask Me! has been translated into twelve languages and sold more than 170,0000 copies around the world.