Further accolades for Gavin Bishop

Gecko Press warmly congratulate author and illustrator Gavin Bishop who has been named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to children's literature in the 2013 New Year honours.

Gavin says 'It is a welcome recognition of the children's literature "renaissance" in New Zealand. The biggest mistake you can make is to forget about the kids and try to write something for the adults who may be reading it, because then you end up with something dishonest. When I first started, there were very few people, very, very few people . . . but now children's literature can be more successful than adults' writing,' he said.

Gecko Press published Margaret Mahy's Mister Whistler last November, with Gavin's stunning illustrations. If you haven't reviewed this and would like a review copy, please let me know. We have limited copies for giveaways if you would like to offer these to your communities.

UK Publishers Weekly posted a starred review right before Christmas, with this closing comment: 

'Bishop’s ink-and-watercolor drawings perform as brilliantly as Mister Whistler himself, showing the action clearly and giving the lines and drape of Mister Whistler’s generous tweed coat the grace of a dancing partner. This is the kind of picture book that families fall in love with.'

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-8774-6791-2