GECKO PRESS JUST KEEP PRODUCING EXCEPTIONAL TITLES

This year will mark the 5th anniversary since Julia Marshall founded the company and the great books just seem to keep coming.
The company's first three titles for 2010 arrived in the mail yesterday and what fun I had reading them.

First up a gorgeous book for the pre-schooler in your life:

ANTON CAN DO MAGIC
Written and illustrated by Ole Könnecke

Ages 2+
32 pages
Paperback $18.99
Hardback $29.99


Anton has a magic hat. A real one. Anton wants to do some magic. He wants to make something disappear...

First Anton tries to make a tree vanish, but it’s too big.
He manages to make a bird disappear, and even his friend Luke.
But where did Luke go?

This is a charming, child-centred story with themes of reality/imagination and the magic of possibility. A simple, humourous text and illustrations which is reminiscent of the ‘Peanuts’ cartoons

Publisher Julia Marshall explains why she chose to publish this title:
‘There are constant surprises throughout this story, and lovely irony and tension between Anton and the reader. For so few words, there’s such a lot of character.
‘Its genius is in its absolute simplicity.’


The author/illustrator
Ole Könnecke was born in 1961 and spent his childhood in Sweden.He now works as a freelance illustrator in Hamburg, Germany. He has won several awards for his work.

Then come two more titles in Gecko Press' terrifically appealing Step-by-Step series:

THE ADVENTURE OF LIFE
by Jean-Benoît Durand
Illustrated by Robin Gindre

Ages 7+
80 pages
Paperback with flaps $19.99

As far as we can tell, the earth is the only planet in the solar system where life exists. It is home to around 1.7 million known species, all kinds of plants and animals… and over 6 billion people. But before people appeared on the scene, what was here? Even the Earth itself did not always exist! And when it first appeared, it looked nothing like the Earth you know…

The Adventure of Life covers all aspects of life on Earth – from the Big Bang to evolution and reproduction,cosmology, biology, geology and ecology. The illustrations are full of humour.
This title is great for children ages 7–10. It features fun comic-strip style illustrations combined with accessible information. An excellent resource for the home or classroom
The author:
Jean-Benoît Durand was born in 1971. He has written novels and educational books for children, and currently runs the only regional magazine for children in France, Normandy Junior.
The illustrator:
Robin Gindre has drawn since he was a child, and finds inspiration in everything, from a walk in the snow to a bus trip.

ALL ABOUT FOOD
by Michèle Mira Pons
Illustrated by Marion Puech

Ages 7+
64 pages
Paperback with flaps $19.99

What did our ancestors eat? How does the human body convert a steak into microscopic elements? Why do some people like to eat snakes, turtles and insects?
Like breathing, eating is essential to survival – and it can also be a great pleasure.
All About Food explains food’s journey through the human body, its role, its history and why healthy eating is important.
The text is fascinating and the illustrations are hilarious.

Again great for children ages 7–10 employing the same fun comic-strip style illustrations combined with accessible information as the previous title.

The author:
Michele Mira Pons was a journalist for many years before becoming a children’s author. She also writes and directs documentary for children.
The illustrator:
Marion Puech was born in Toulouse in 1980. She studied at the Strasbourg School of Decorative Arts and began illustrating children’s books in 2004.

Footnote:
Both of these titles in the Step-by-Step series were translated by Jean Anderson, Director of the New Zealand Center for Literary Translation at Victoria University of Wellington and technical advice on the content checked and adapted by Raymond Huber a New Zealand Primary School teacher who has written many science books for children.