Gecko Press

<p>Kind Crocodile</p>

<p>A kind crocodile leaves his pond to see the world, in this fresh and playful new board book from New York Times Illustrated Book Award winning author Leo Timmers.</p>

<p>Animals are in danger—help, kind crocodile! Here comes a terrified mouse, a frightened hog, an antelope. One by one they find shelter on Crocodile’s long back, while his big teeth scare their enemies away. GRRR!</p>

<p>In a fun game of chase, the kind crocodile gives shelter to one animal after another on his long green back, scaring away their pursuers—until the load becomes too heavy and the crocodile doesn’t feel so kind anymore, and turns on his friends. GRRRR!</p>

<p>But not for long: “Just kidding!” says Crocodile.</p>

<p>“Not kind!” say the friends.</p>

<p>This funny board book from Leo Timmers features his trademark detailed illustrations full of expression and a satisfying twist ending—will Crocodile gobble up his friends? Of course not, the kind crocodile is just pretending.</p>

<p>Kind Crocodile is a board book to enjoy again and again, with a lively game of chase and a message about teamwork at its heart. A larger format sturdy board book perfect for reading with toddlers and preschoolers who can join in with the fun repetition.</p>

<p>Translated from the Dutch edition by Bill Nagelkerke.</p>

<p>Pops</p>

<p>A warm and comforting board book about the bond between grandfather and child, from award-winning author and illustrator.</p>

<p>A small hand in a big one, big boots and little, some food from the garden, storytime and a nap to finish. Through powerful illustrations and simple words, Pops captures a very special time with a child and their grandfather as they share a day of easy moments together.</p>

<p>A warm story to share with babies, toddlers and preschoolers showing a multigenerational and multi-ethnic family relation. With a gender neutral child and inclusive illustrations, Pops is a starting point for conversation with young children. The simplicity of the words and pictures lets readers build their own stories about their visit to a loved member of the family.</p>

<p>Other books from Gavin Bishop: Mihi Cook’s Cook</p>

<p>Praise for Pops</p>

<p>"A beautiful board book highlighting the joy of spending a day with a grandpa. Recommended for every shelf." starred review, School Library Journal

”Full of warmth, this is a lovely book for a grandfather to share with a very young child and a good starting point for conversations about special times shared with individual’s own grandparents.” Red Reading Hub

"This chunky board book with diverse characters features clever bold illustrations that zoom in on specific details of warmth, love and the joy of family.” School Reading List

“The book is filled with typically beautiful illustrations by Bishop, and it reminded me of my relation with my (Grandfather); there were few words between us but plenty of unspoken love and tenderness.</p>

<p>A Mother Is A House</p>

<p>A contemporary and original gift book, celebrating modern motherhood and mothers.</p>

<p>The Times Children's Book of the Week.</p>

<p>In this eye-catching, neon-bright picture book, a baby sees their mother in every aspect of their day from birth to first steps.</p>

<p>A mother's a house,</p>

<p>She's a car in a rush,</p>

<p>She's a lullaby hush.</p>

<p>As the pages go by, the child grows. The mother becomes a road, a story and a show, the illustrations at times literal, unexpected. On the final page, the child is ready to take their first steps. Because a mother is a home that you carry inside you forever.</p>

<p>Offering a unique baby's eye view of the first year, A Mother Is a House contains all of the funny observations and emotions of a mother and child's first year together-shown through bright, modern illustrations and special inks.</p>

<p>A chic and stylish gift book for expectant parents, baby showers, new mums, Mother's Day, or as a celebratory gift for daughters and grandparents.</p>

<p>Translated from the French by Daniel Hahn.</p>

<p>Seahorses Are Sold Out</p>

<p>A lockdown bestseller and high spirited story about an enterprising only child and a single-father’s juggle to work from home.</p>

<p>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?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“Absolutely hilarious.” — Kirkus Reviews</p>

<p>Praise for Seahorses Are Sold Out:</p>

<p>"Lively, colourful 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."— Kirkus Reviews</p>

<p>“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.”— Love Four Learning</p>

<p>“This fun picture book shows how independent our young people can be, and how sometimes bedlam can follow.”—Schools and Libraries Association New Zealand Aotearoa</p>

<p>Have You Seen Dinosaur?</p>

<p>Play hide and seek with a boy, his animal friends, and a dinosaur that's surprisingly hard to spot in the city. The brilliantly interactive follow-up to international bestselling picture book Have You Seen Elephant?</p>

<p>Best friends boy, dog, and elephant are VERY good at hide-and-seek. There's a missing dinosaur in the city―who better to spot this elusive giant? They search the skate park, the museum, the subway . . .</p>

<p>No one in the city can spot the dinosaur, not even this expert hide-and-seek team. But delighted readers will be pointing "There it is!" from the first page.</p>

<p>This absurd, laugh-out-loud picture book is richly illustrated with David Barrow's trademark beautiful use of light and color and dramatic cityscapes―a guaranteed hit with dinosaur-loving toddlers.</p>

<p>With clues, surprises, and humor, this game-inside-a-book celebrates imaginative play and is perfect for sharing with children who will love being better at finding the dinosaur than their adult reader.</p>

<p>David Barrow received the Sebastian Walker award for most promising children’s illustrator from the Cambridge School of Art. His first book Have You Seen Elephant? was shortlisted for the Waterstones Prize and is a bestseller around the world.</p>

<p>Lionel Is Just Like Dad</p>

<p>A warm father and son story in which an irresistible lion cub proudly tries to be just like Dad.</p>

<p>Lionel can do everything Dad does: Dad combs his hair. So does Lionel. Dad scratches his arm. So does Lionel. Dad sings very, very loud. So does Lionel.</p>

<p>But when Lionel throws all the toys in the air and they come down THUNK on Dad's head . . . Dad yells! Ow! So does Lionel! Dad takes a break and has a think. Then comes rushing back for a big hug―Dad is very, very happy, and so is Lionel!</p>

<p>This fun story is a discussion tool for emotional learning―over enthusiasm, mistakes, feeling upset, reconciliation, love―and a father and son relationship rarely seen in board books.</p>

<p>Boundary-pushing Lionel has a mischievous grin that instantly wins us over, and his tolerant father incidentally provides a great model for parenting. This small and sturdy board book is just right for toddlers' and preschoolers' hands, making it ideal to read alongside a child.</p>

<p>Lionel Is Just Like Dad is the third book in this pithy board book series, designed to be read as standalone stories that introduce developmental milestones with humor, mischief, and gentle guidance. The series includes Lionel Eats All By Himself and Lionel Poops.</p>

<p>Translated from the French edition by Daniel Hahn.</p>