G is for Gecko

Ever wonder what a gecko does in a day? Now you can take a peek into this little gecko's life as you step along with him from A to Z.

Gecko begins his day being shooed out of the house by Auntie with a Broom then gets chased by her Cat out the Door . . .

and so he ventures out into the world outside on a bright and Early day where he does everything from the Hula to playing with friends at the beach.

Published by BeachHouse Publishing, an imprint of Mutual, G is for Gecko is just one of many adorable and unique local books made especially for local kids. Because local books are not usually sold on Amazon and only have limited distribution within the state, they make great gifts for ex-kamaaina (residents) or friends and family who live elsewhere but love Hawaii.

Reading a local children's story can be a nostalgic walk down memory lane or a colorful way to experience the magical childhood that only paradise can offer. Local books are fun to read and definitely a collectible so scoop them up!

G is for Gecko
words by Jane Gillespie
pictures by Don Robinson

© 2006 BeachHouse Publishing LLC

A Long Piece of String

One of the most fun types of children's books are ABC books. They can be as common as a basic primer or as special as sought-after collectibles. While getting your hands on vintage alphabet books can be difficult and expensive, fortunately, there are plenty of wonderful contemporary editions around.

A Long Piece of String is a stunning example of making the old new again. Thanks to a recent reprinting of this 1963 classic, this wordless picture book will have you and your little one eagerly turning the page in anticipation of the next letter's surprise.

William Wondriska expresses his graphic designer's touch through bold, playful icons of an animal, place, or thing, that are all connected by a continous string (hence the book's title). The string gets longer and longer then tangled, twisted, and tied up as each symbolic letter of the alphabet are successively threaded together.

Remember how pictures are worth a thousand words? This book is an exceptional example. The deliberate absence of words only adds to its literary delight as it will peak curiosity and opportunity for interactive reading. I have found this book a great way for teaching new words to my Wa-wa because of Mr. Wondriska's eclectic choice of objects in representing each letter of the alphabet.

  

















A Long Piece of String is definitely one of the most unique, creative, and beautiful alphabet books around and is a definite must-have for any personal collection or shelf. More over, despite being sans words, this book is far from silent. Mr. Wondriska makes the alphabet sing off the pages and I love the way he added a new twist to the ABC song's ending: A B C D E F G . . . W X Y and Z. Now I know my ABCs, next time won't you guess with me?

A Long Piece of String

pictures by William Wondriska 

© 1963 by William Wondriska, reprinted © 2010 by Chronicle Books