{{Short description|Company publisher of children's books in Wellington, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox publisher | image = File:Gecko_Press_logo.jpg | parent = | status = | founded = 2005 | founder = Julia Marshall ONZM | successor = | country = New Zealand | headquarters = Wellington | distribution = Harper Entertainment Distribution Services (NZ and AUS)<br />Lerner (US)<br />Bounce! Sales & Marketing (UK)<ref>[https://geckopress.com/contact-us/distributor-near-you/ Sales and distribution]</ref> | keypeople = | publications = Children's Books | topics = | genre = | imprints = | revenue = | numemployees = | nasdaq = | url = {{URL|http://www.geckopress.com}} }}
'''Gecko Press''' is an independent publisher of children's books based in Wellington, New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gecko Press - Curiously good books from around the world - Gecko Press|url=http://www.geckopress.com|website=www.geckopress.com|accessdate=15 November 2016}}</ref> The company was founded in 2005 by Julia Marshall, formerly of Appelberg Publishing Agency, winner of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Publisher maintains nimble approach|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/65932233/gecko-press-publisher-julia-marshall-maintains-nimble-approach|website=Stuff|date=8 February 2015 |accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Storylines Margaret Mahy Award|url=https://www.storylines.org.nz/Awards/Storylines+Margaret+Mahy+Medal+and+Lecture+Award.html|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.storylines.org.nz|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031421/https://www.storylines.org.nz/Awards/Storylines+Margaret+Mahy+Medal+and+Lecture+Award.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Marshall was appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-02 |title=King's Birthday Honours List 2025 |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/kings-birthday-honours-list-2025 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |language=en}}</ref>
Gecko Press publishes English translations of popular books from countries including France, Taiwan, Sweden, Japan, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. Gecko Press also publish 2–4 original titles each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publishers.org.nz/members/gecko-press-2/|title=Gecko Press profile|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref>
==Authors and illustrators== Gecko Press has published and translated a wide range of children's book authors and illustrators. These include: *Barbro Lindgren *Dorothée de Monfreid *Eva Eriksson *Frida Nilsson *Gavin Bishop *Gitte Spee *Grégoire Solotareff *Joy Cowley *Juliette MacIver *Kate De Goldi *Margaret Mahy *Michal Shalev *Rose Lagercrantz *Sarah Davis *Sarah Wilkins *Stéphanie Blake *Timo Parvela *Ulf Nilsson *Ulf Stark
==Books== Gecko Press publishes fiction and non-fiction books for children. Some of its most successful books to date include: Duck, Death and the Tulip,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Erlbruch|first1=Wolf|last2=Chidgey|first2=Catherine|title=Duck, Death and the Tulip|year=2008 |publisher=Gecko Press|isbn=9781877467141|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGAHKAAACAAJ|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref> which has also been adapted as a stage production and short film, and Poo Bum by Stéphanie Blake.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Blake|first1=Stephanie|title=Poo Bum|year=2011 |publisher=Gecko Press|isbn=9781877467974|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EtKUZwEACAAJ&q=poo+bum|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref>
==Awards== Since it was established, Gecko Press has been internationally recognised. Prizes include: *2018 – Shortlisted, New Zealand Book Awardsfor Children and Young Adults - ''The Longest Breakfast''<ref>{{cite web|title=2018 Awards|url=http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards-for-children-and-young-adults/2018-awards/shortlist/|accessdate=3 August 2018}}</ref> *2017 – Best Publisher winner at the New Zealand Book Industry Awards<ref>{{cite web|title=Two in a Row! Time Out Bookstore Win Again! - Booksellers NZ|url=https://www.booksellers.co.nz/news/two-row-time-out-bookstore-win-again|website=www.booksellers.co.nz|accessdate=22 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gecko Press wins 2017 Publisher of the Year {{!}} Gecko Press|url=https://geckopress.com/gecko-press-wins-publishers-publisher-of-the-year/|website=Gecko Press - Award-Winning Children's Books New Zealand|accessdate=22 August 2017|date=20 August 2017}}</ref> *2017 – Winner, Best Picture book at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, for ''That's Not A Hippopotamus!''<ref>{{cite web|title=Winners {{!}} New Zealand Book Awards Trust|url=http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards-for-children-and-young-adults/2017-awards/winners/|website=www.nzbookawards.nz|accessdate=22 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=An award-winning Hippopotamus! {{!}} Gecko Press|url=https://geckopress.com/an-award-winning-hippopotamus/|website=Gecko Press {{!}} Award-Winning Children's Books New Zealand|accessdate=22 August 2017|date=14 August 2017}}</ref> *2016 – Nominated for Marsh Award for Children's Literature in Translation for ''Detective Gordon: The First Case'' *2013 – Best Children's Publisher of the Year in Oceania at Bologna Children's Book Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=http://booksellers.co.nz/book-news/book-island-nominated-bologna-prize-2016|title=Nominated Bologna Prize|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref> *2012, 2011 – Finalist, New Zealand Thorpe-Bowker Publisher of the Year<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.booksellers.co.nz/book-news/winners-announced-2012-thorpe-bowker-new-zealand-book-industry-awards|title=Thorpe-Bowker Awards|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref> *2010 – Runner up, New Zealand Thorpe-Bower Publisher of the Year *2010 – New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Children's Choice Junior Fiction award for ''Friends: Snake and Lizard'', by Joy Cowley *2010 – Winner Creative Gold Wellington regional business Gold Awards<ref>{{cite web|title=2010|url=http://goldawards.co.nz/previous+winners/2010?src=nav|website=Gold Awards|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref> *2009 – Finalist, Wellington regional business Gold Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goldawards.co.nz/previous+winners/2009?src=nav|title=Gold Awards 2009|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref> *2008 – Winner, New Zealand Thorpe-Bowker Publisher of the Year *2008 – Sunday Star-Times NZ Children's Publisher of the Year *2008 – New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Book of the Year for ''Snake and Lizard'' by Joy Cowley
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.geckopress.co.nz Official Gecko Press website]
Category:Children's book publishers Category:Publishing companies established in 2005 Category:Book publishing companies of New Zealand Category:New Zealand companies established in 2005