The Gecko Annual features a dictionary of odd words that come in handy on car trips, a sophisticated "spot the similarity", a found poem from school newsletters, a maths-nerd's memoir full of tricky logic puzzles, comics that embrace other worlds, a very unlucky zebra, and top-class fiction that spans Christchurch Botanic Gardens in the 19th century, the loss of a brother, a Kiwi beach holiday, and a Fontanian boarding school. This is a book for readers who are hungry for sophisticated, wide-ranging, and challenging content. It aims to revitalize the reading experience for this age group and create lifetime readers.

Author Biography

Kate De Goldi is one of New Zealand's best-known commentators on children's literature, via her regular sessions with Kim Hill on National Radio and extensive visits to schools. She writes fiction for all ages and has published nine books. She has an extensive network of contacts throughout the New Zealand writing community and an in-depth understanding of New Zealand's writing and publishing culture.\Susan Paris has fifteen years' experience in publishing and nine years as editor of the School Journal. Under her stewardship, the School Journal has won Best Publication in New Zealand educational publishing three times. She has written more than forty chapter books for the educational market, both here and overseas.