Gecko Press

Book List: Don’t Touch Me – Lessons in Consent

How to help our kids understand consent and set (and respect!) boundaries? It’s a surprisingly controversial topic. Guest writer Bee Trudgeon reflects on this area of contention and sets out to find some books that can help facilitate this conversation;…

Christmas Reads from The Sapling

We interrupt this hiatus to bring you a list of Top Recommendations for the 2021 Holiday Season, created for you, our dear readers, as well as those of Newsroom’s ReadingRoom. Compiled by Editor Sarah with a bit of help from…

SPCA summer Reading Challenge

Read for animals this summer with the SPCA Reading Challenge, run by Read NZ. It all started when we asked a group of self-described reluctant readers: what would it take to make reading more fun for you? They were of…

New non-fiction reviews

From a tale of mythical women in northernmost Tuvalu to a story of a modern mophead woman of Tuvaluan, Samoan, French, Scottish and English descent – as well as adventures in tech through time, seaside exploration and Niuean icons. It’s…

Jonathan King on The Inkberg Enigma

The latest curiously good Aotearoa title from Gecko Press is packed with mystery, evocative illustration and all kinds of goodness! The Inkberg Enigma, by Jonathan King, is out now – but before you rush out to buy a copy, you…

Book Reviews: New Picture Books from Aotearoa

From forty years in print and still relevant to kids today to the latest picture books in Aotearoa. This selection of picture books is a line up that has something for everyone, as Simie Simpson’s tells us in these reviews….

Book Reviews: New Picture Books from Aotearoa

From curious noises to sneaky felines to whānau-focused native birds, we’ve got a cracker of a line-up of new Kiwi picture books in this set of reviews. Early childhood teacher Alana Bird gives us her takes.  Hoihoi Turituri, by Soledad…

Book Reviews: Middle Grade Reading

Rachel Moore has read and reviewed three new books for the middle grade space – two excellent chapter books and a fabulous new non-fiction title full of answers to all manner of curly body-related questions. Avis and the Promise of…

Book Reviews: Five New Zealand Picture Books

Rachel Moore reviews five new New Zealand picture books, which cover everything from the beauty and brutality of nature, to how to cope with anxiety and bullying. The Promise of Puanga, by Kirsty Wadsworth and Munro Te Whata It’s wonderful…