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Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club By Gecko Press
About Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Project 2017-05-01 14:08:30 +1200
(From Super Rabbit by Stephanie Blake)
What is our aim?
At Gecko Press our aim is that every child loves to read.
Gecko Press publishes a small number of carefully chosen, edgy yet proven - what we call curiously good - children's books, from the best writers and illustrators in the world, translated into English, for readers in New Zealand, the US, the UK and Australia.
And in a world of digital distraction, we want to do our bit to keep kids' noses in books.
(From A Day with Dogs by Dorothee de Monfreid)
What is the Curiously Good Book Club?
We want to create a digital and real life community where people can share knowledge about great books for children (not just our books) and find creative ways to encourage children to love to read. The Curiously Good Book Club will include activities for kids, real people events and rich digital experience.
We would love to have storytelling sessions at the beach; workshops on how to be a good reader-alouder; give every child a tiny reading journal and I'm a Curiously Good Reader badge.
We want to collaborate with anyone and everyone, and to be loud about the joy and benefits of being a good reader.
Because one good book can kickstart every child into a lifetime love of reading.
What will you get if you pledge?
You can simply opt to join us at a Curiously Good Party in November in Wellington, to toast the festive season.
Or you can choose a surprise pack of curiously good books (tell us what age you're interested in!) or a book subscription (regular parcels delivered to you, or directly to a favourite child, school or library).
You can choose to donate books directly to a school or library, or to receive all Gecko Press books with an All you can eat subscription.
Everyone who pledges goes in the draw to win a pile of Gecko Press books! And check our social media pages - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) as there will also be fun new pledges... so keep looking!
Why do we need you?
It will cost at least $50,000 to get the club off the ground. We are investing $15,000 and crowdfunding the remaining $35,000 by offering tangible rewards.
Most of this money will go to improving the digital experience and backbone of the club, so we can offer fun things like events, reading incentives - such as tiny reading journals and stickers - and ways to share knowledge of great books. Your money will go to real life events, a digital marketing system that allows us to target the right book to the right child, videos, webinars, workshops, etc.
(From A Book is a Book by Jenny Bornholdt and Sarah Wilkins)
Thank you for your help!
Julia, Faustine, Rachel, Grace & Frances
Comments
The People Behind Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Gecko Press
Project admin
Gecko Press is a pint-sized Wellington-based independent publisher of curiously good children’s books. We are a team of five:
- Julia: founder, publisher and CEO. Favourite picture book as a child: Borka, by John Burningham.
- Rachel: associate publisher. Favourite novel as a child: Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat, by Ursula Moray Williams
- Frances: accounts, shipping and royalties. Favorite book to read to children: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson Dairy, by Lynley Dodd
- Faustine: sales and promotions manager. Favourite series as a child: His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman
- Grace: digital back end and assistant publisher. Favourite book when she was 9yo: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
The Gecko Press team: Julia, Rachel, Faustine, Grace & Frances
We all love children's books. The aim of Gecko Press is that every child discovers the love of reading. We want to make reading fun, accessible and visible.
We publish a small number of carefully-chosen, edgy yet proven – what we call curiously good – children’s books from the best writers and illustrators in the world, translated into English, for readers in New Zealand, the US, the UK and Australia.
Have a look at our catalogue here.
It takes just one good book to kickstart a child into a lifetime love of reading.
(From A Book is a Book by Jenny Bornholdt and Sarah Wilkins)
Updates
287 pledgers, $35,000, and a big THANK YOU
05:12PM Tue 20/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Dear Curiously Good Pledgers,
Thank you!
Here we are...we did it! Thanks to you – the 287 people who pledged and who talked about our campaign – we’ve made over $35,000!
We’re ready to offer a great Curiously Good Book Club, and to kickstart every child into a lifetime love of reading.
We still have one day to go, and there are still great rewards for you to pledge for. Extra funds will be used to offer incentives to children (“Curiously Good Reader” badges and more reading journals).
We can't thank you enough for your help and support. Thank you to those who’ve pledged. Thank you to our illustrators for their gorgeous illustrations. Thank you to the authors, publishers, illustrators, and art directors who will join us for the workshops. Thank you to all the people who’ve shared the Curiously Good Book Club. All of you have made this possible! We're over the Moon, and you've brought us here.
Now we're bringing books to children!
Join us for a tea or coffee on Saturday
To those of you who live in Wellington, or who will be in the area this weekend, we would be delighted to invite you to have a tea or coffee with us. Join us at our office (9 Holland Street) this Saturday 24 from 10am to 12:30pm. You can pick up your books, and we would love to have a chat with you and get more ideas or feedback about the Curiously Good Book Club. RSVP essential to [email protected], so we can prepare your rewards.
For those of your further away, we will send your rewards next week.
If you’ve pledged for packs of books, please send us an email with the reading age you would like and we’ll try to match it as much as possible.
If you have pledged for original illustrations and prints, this will take a bit longer – the illustrations come from all around the world! We hope to send these within a month, and we’ll let you know when they’re on the way.
What’s next?
As you know, the aim of the Club is simple – that every child loves to read.
Comment on this update:
1 day to go - less than $1000 to reach our goal... and gorgeous new rewards!
11:34AM Tue 20/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Dear Curiously Good Pledgers,
We have received amazing support over the weekend...we have less than $1000 to reach our $35,000 goal (before tomorrow 8pm). We're nearly there!
Our wonderful illustrators are supporting the Curiously Good Book Club until the last minute so we can offer you new gorgeous rewards (see below)! Ole Konnecke has drawn original Bert illustrations just for you, and he even sent us a video of him drawing it so you can see how he does it!
And we still have packs of books, invitations to our end of the year party, prints, and tickets for a great illustration workshop with award-winning illustrators and a famous art director.
The writing workshop is sold out, but you can have a coffee with publisher Julia Marshall to get feedback on your writing.
Illustrator Workshop (August 28 - Wellington) - $350
New original illustrations!
#24 Original illustration "Bert with hats" by Ole Könnecke ($850)
#25 Original illustration "Bert 1" by Ole Könnecke ($500)
#26 Original illustration "Bert 2" by Ole Könnecke ($500)
#27 Original illustration "Bert 3" by Ole Könnecke ($500)
#28 Four signed limited edition prints of the illustration "Have You Seen Elephant - Cover" from Have You Seen Elephant, by David Barrow ($250 each) - 4 left
And still available:
Original illustration by Gavin Bishop:
#12 One original illustration "Snake and Lizard" from Snake and Lizard ($800)
#17 One original illustration "Big Help - Little Help" from Helper and Helper ($500)
#10 One original illustration "Squirrel and co" from Helper and Helper ($700)
Signed limited prints by Paul Beavis:
#5 Limited edition signed prints of the illustration "Monster with backpack" from Hello World ($250) - 5 left
#6 Limited edition signed prints of the illustration "Monster painting" from Hello World ($250) - 5 left
Limited prints by Leo Timmers:
#18 Limited edition prints of the illustration "Fire Truck" from Who's Driving ($180 each) - 4 left
#19 Limited edition prints of the illustration "Plane" from Who's Driving ($180 each) - 4 left
Thank you to everybody for your huge help!
Julia and all at Gecko Press
Comment on this update:
5 days to go - over 65% - and a new reward!
05:11PM Fri 16/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Dear Curiously Good Pledgers,
We are now over 65%...Thank you to each of the 182 pledgers who have supported us!
We told you we would be announcing an exciting writing workshop very soon...Here it is!
We are offering a workshop for new or aspiring children's book writers, with publishers (from Gecko Press and another local publisher) and two experienced children's books writers, publishers and editors (Susan Paris and Kate de Goldi, the editors of Annual looking for new talent!). Participants will be able to present and get feedback on their work, and to learn from publishers and writers…And we are also very interested to see new writers' work.
Writing workshop (August 7 - Wellington)
9:00-10:00 am: Julia Marshall, Rachel Lawson and another local publisher discuss what they are looking for from writers, and how they work with them
10:00-10:15 am: Morning tea
10:15-12:30 am: Participants are invited to present a story, while the publishers offer feedback and advice on one-to-one
12:30-1:15 pm: Lunch
1:15-4 pm: Workshop with writers and editors Susan Paris and Kate de Goldi (the tasks resemble something that could turn into Annual content)
4:00-5:00: Drinks
An illustration workshop is also available.
You can become an art collector, and of course we have lots of books to buy, offer or donate...
We are in the last week of our campaign, and we need you more than ever. Please talk about our PledgeMe campaign with everyone you know!
Thank you to all of you for your help!
Julia and all at Gecko Press
Comment on this update:
One week to go, over 60% funded . . . and new rewards!
04:13PM Wed 14/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Dear Curiously Good Pledgers,
Thank you to each of the 167 pledgers who have supported us! We’re now over 60% funded and are on the way to reach our goal... so you can get your rewards!
It seems you’ve loved our latest rewards – generously offered by our illustrators. Only a few artworks are left, but good news! We have some new, unexpected illustrations from Gitte Spee and Peter Schössow – pledge for them before they’re all gone. Check the full updated list here.
We also have a new reward aimed at new and aspiring illustrators. We are offering a workshop with publishers (from Gecko Press and another local publisher) and experienced and award-winning illustrators (Paul Beavis and Josh Morgan) and an award winning art director (Vida Kelly) who worked with some of the best children's book publishers and illustrators. Participants will be able to present and get feedback on their work, and to learn from publishers and illustrators…And we are also very interested to see new illustrators' work.
The workshop will be in central Wellington on August 28.
Here are more details:
Illustrator workshop (August 28 - Wellington)
9:00-10:00 am: Julia Marshall, Rachel Lawson and another local publisher discuss what they are looking for from illustrators, and how they work with them
10:00-10:15 am: Morning tea
10:15-12:30 am: Participants are invited to create a storyboard – supervised by Vida Kelly (award winning art director who worked with some of the best children's book publishers and illustrators!), while the publishers offer feedback and advice
12:30-1:15 pm: Lunch
1:15-4 pm: Workshop with award-winning illustrators Paul Beavis and Josh Morgan
4:00-5:00: Drinks
We will be announcing an exciting workshop for writers very soon . . . check our upcoming update.
We are in the last week of our campaign, and we need you more than ever. Please talk about our PledgeMe campaign with everyone you know!
Thank you to all of you for your help!
Julia and all at Gecko Press
#20 Original Illustration "Tea Time" from "Detective Gordon", by Gitte Spee ($500)
#21 One limited edition print of the illustration "Two Red Cars" from "My First Car Was Red", by Peter Schössow ($150) - SOLD OUT
#22 One limited edition print of the illustration "One Car" from "My First Car Was Red", by Peter Schössow ($150)
#23 One limited edition print of the illustration "Red Cars Race" from My First Car Was Red, by Peter Schössow ($150)
Comment on this update:
Become an art collector, and kickstart every child into a lifetime of reading!
05:37PM Thu 08/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Dear Curiously Good Pledgers,
Thank you to each of the 130 pledgers who have supported us! We’re now over 40% funded and are on the home trail...
We have some gorgeous new rewards to help us reach our goal to build the Curiously Good Book Club.
Our illustrators from New Zealand and around the world are supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering limited edition prints, limited edition signed prints and ORIGINAL illustrations. The prints will be numbered (only 2 or 5 copies available of each) and printed on thick, beautiful paper. Below is a preview of a few of them (To see them all, please go to the previous updates, page 1 and 2 where they are listed by illustrator. You then match the #number to the Pledge. Illustrators include Gavin Bishop, Kieran Rynhart, Paul Beavis, Leo Timmers, David Barrow, Sarah Davis, Ole Könnecke.
Here you go!
#9 Original illustration "Robot" from Franky, by Leo Timmers ($850)
#15 Two signed limited edition prints of the illustration "Whale" from "If I was a Banana", by Kieran Rynhart ($250 each)
#10 Original illustration "Squirrel and co" from Helper and Helper, by Gavin Bishop ($700)
#4 Original rough "Elephant behind a tree" from Have You Seen Elephant?, by David Barrow ($400)
#6 Limited edition signed prints of the illustration "Monster painting" from Hello World, by Paul Beavis ($250)
#8 Original illustration "Toucans endpapers" from Toucan Can, by Sarah Davis ($400)
And much more!
For overseas pledgers, please add $20 to your pledge for shipping.
Thank you to our illustrators - and to all of you for helping us!
Julia and all at Gecko Press
Comment on this update:
Kieran Rynhart limited signed edition prints
03:12PM Thu 08/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Kieran Rynhart is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us limited signed prints from If I was a Banana.
#15 Two signed limited edition prints of the illustration "Whale" from "If I was a Banana" ($250 each)
#16 Two signed limited edition prints of the illustration "Elephant" from "If I was a Banana" ($250 each)
Comment on this update:
Ole Könnecke limited edition prints
11:13AM Thu 08/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Ole Könnecke is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us limited prints from The Big Book of Words and Pictures.
#13 Five limited edition prints of this alphabet - without the words - from The Big Book of Words and Pictures ($180 each)
Comment on this update:
Gavin Bishop original illustrations from "Snake and Lizard" series
10:15AM Thu 08/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Gavin Bishop is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us four original illustrations from the Snake and Lizard series.
#17 Original illustration "Big Help - Little Help" from Helper and Helper ($500)
#10 Original illustration "Squirrel and co" from Helper and Helper ($700)
#11 Original illustration "Lizard and Rabbits" from Snake and Lizard ($1000)
#12 Original illustration "Snake and Lizard" from Snake and Lizard ($800)
Comment on this update:
Leo Timmers limited edition prints and original illustration
09:49AM Thu 08/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Leo Timmers is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us one original illustration from Franky and two limited prints from Who's driving.
#9 Original illustration "Robot" from Franky ($850)
#18 Limited edition prints of the illustration "Fire Truck" from Who's Driving ($180 each)
#19 Limited edition prints of the illustration "Plane" from Who's Driving ($180 each)
Comment on this update:
Sarah Davis original illustrations from Toucan Can
04:55PM Wed 07/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Sarah Davis is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us two original illustrations from Toucan Can.
#7 Original illustration "Toucans color" from Toucan Can ($500)
#8 Original illustration "Toucans endpapers" from Toucan Can ($400)
Comment on this update:
Paul Beavis signed limited edition prints
04:42PM Wed 07/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Paul Beavis is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us signed limited edition prints from Hello World.
#5 Limited edition signed prints of the illustration "Monster with backpack" from Hello World ($250)
#6 Limited edition signed prints of the illustration "Monster painting" from Hello World ($250)
Comment on this update:
David Barrow original roughs and signed limited edition prints
04:29PM Wed 07/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
David Barrow is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us original roughs and signed limited edition prints of gorgeous illustrations from Have You Seen Elephant?.
#3 Original rough "I give up" from Have You Seen Elephant? ($350)
#4 Original rough "Elephant behind a tree" from Have You Seen Elephant? ($400)
#1 Signed limited edition print of the illustration "Elephant behind a tree" from Have You Seen Elephant? ($250)
#2 Signed limited edition print of the illustration "I give up" from Have You Seen Elephant? ($250)
Comment on this update:
1/3 funded and new rewards to celebrate!
03:05PM Fri 02/06/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Dear Curiously Good pledgers,
We’re over 1/3 funded . . . Thank you very much to the 112 pledgers who supported us! And we have some exciting new rewards...
But we need to get to our goal for the campaign to be funded… We believe we can reach 50% of our goal over Queen’s Birthday weekend. Would you like to help us with that? You can share this link on Facebook, or this link pldg.me/gecko and this image everywhere!
From Super Rabbit by Stephanie Blake
And we have excellent news for you! David Barrow is supporting the Curiously Good Book Club by offering us five signed limited edition prints of two gorgeous illustrations from Have You Seen Elephant?
They are only five of each, you'll have to be quick!
Thank you again for your help,
Julia and all at Gecko Press
Comment on this update:
20% and Curiously Good Book Club event #1!
04:13PM Fri 26/05/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Dear Curiously Good pledgers,
Comment on this update:
Thank you + Huge GIVEAWAY!
10:06AM Tue 23/05/17 on Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign! We’ve reached 10% of our goal... Help us reach our $35000 by spreading the word!
And keep looking at our campaign page... We've got some contests with great rewards (check out our social media pages and see below).We'll also add new and unique pledges!
Help us build the Curiously Good Book Club with a little pledge, and you'll go in the draw to win a huge pile of Curiously Good Books! If you pledge AND share, you go in the draw TWICE! Pledge and spread the word!
Comment on this update:
Pledges
Gecko Press
2017-06-19 21:51:47 +1200Gecko Press has pledged on 35 campaigns
“Martin Waddy for Hugh1”
Kate Wood
2017-06-19 21:50:19 +1200Kate Wood has pledged on 4 campaigns
Anonymous pledger
2017-06-19 21:45:02 +1200This pledger has chosen to pledge anonymously
Anonymous pledger
2017-06-19 21:42:31 +1200This pledger has chosen to pledge anonymously
Susannah Poole
2017-06-19 21:39:19 +1200Susannah Poole has pledged on 1 campaign
Kate Luff
2017-06-19 21:33:39 +1200Kate Luff has pledged on 2 campaigns
Rochelle Savage
2017-06-19 20:53:29 +1200Rochelle Savage has pledged on 3 campaigns
Heidi Louden
2017-06-19 20:43:53 +1200Heidi Louden has pledged on 2 campaigns
“We love your books! ”
Fiona Fieldsend
2017-06-19 19:42:18 +1200Fiona Fieldsend has pledged on 3 campaigns
“We're big Gecko Press fans and we think this is a great initiative. Best of luck!”
Dayle Manley
2017-06-19 19:34:30 +1200Dayle Manley has pledged on 1 campaign
Joanna Parker
2017-06-19 19:02:35 +1200Joanna Parker has pledged on 2 campaigns
Meredith Elley
2017-06-19 18:05:47 +1200Meredith Elley has pledged on 2 campaigns
Nathalie Buckrell
2017-06-19 17:59:40 +1200Nathalie Buckrell has pledged on 2 campaigns
“Go Gecko! Almost there! :)”
Anonymous pledger
2017-06-19 17:43:04 +1200This pledger has chosen to pledge anonymously
Susan Chamberlain
2017-06-19 14:02:09 +1200Susan Chamberlain has pledged on 1 campaign
Mandy Hager
2017-06-19 13:30:31 +1200Mandy Hager has pledged on 10 campaigns
“Wonderful initiative!”
Annette Paora
2017-06-19 13:18:35 +1200Annette Paora has pledged on 1 campaign
Jane
2017-06-19 12:49:06 +1200Jane has pledged on 1 campaign
Claire Nevans
2017-06-19 12:36:10 +1200Claire Nevans has pledged on 1 campaign
Sophie Siers
2017-06-19 10:51:33 +1200Sophie Siers has pledged on 1 campaign
“thank you, what a great idea...”
Anonymous pledger
2017-06-19 10:15:01 +1200This pledger has chosen to pledge anonymously
chris morris
2017-06-19 08:49:34 +1200chris morris has pledged on 3 campaigns
Pam Kemsley
2017-06-19 07:42:46 +1200Pam Kemsley has pledged on 1 campaign
Helen Heath
2017-06-19 06:53:33 +1200Helen Heath has pledged on 8 campaigns
“Good luck!”
Alex MacGibbon
2017-06-18 21:53:12 +1200Alex MacGibbon has pledged on 4 campaigns
“Curiously good idea! Good luck Gecko Books.”
Nicky Chapman
2017-06-18 21:47:08 +1200Nicky Chapman has pledged on 2 campaigns
“Great idea, Julia & team! Good luck”
Camilla Dadson
2017-06-18 21:41:45 +1200Camilla Dadson has pledged on 5 campaigns
Warren Hall
2017-06-18 21:37:59 +1200Warren Hall has pledged on 2 campaigns
“All the best with your campaign and your Curiously Good Book Club”
Anonymous pledger
2017-06-18 21:19:49 +1200This pledger has chosen to pledge anonymously
Elizabeth Jones
2017-06-18 20:49:39 +1200Elizabeth Jones has pledged on 2 campaigns
Followers of Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
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Gecko Press Curiously Good Book Club
by Gecko Press
Kickstart every child into a lifetime love of reading!