I Love Geckos

A couple of months ago I was in Hawaii on vacation....well, I guess everyone goes there for vacation....(wish there were business trips to Hawaii!) Anyway, while I was there I browsed through the children's book section of the local bookstore to see if I could find some picture books that were different than what I see at home. Something with local flavor.

I came across a couple of books by local artist Don Robinson, who is a very talented fine artist and also a children's book illustrator. I just fell in love with this particular book "G is for Gecko" partly because I love little lizards and partly because of the very creative perspective that Don used in this book to convey the tiny Gecko's VERY BIG world.

The story about this gecko and his adventurous Hawaiian day is also an alphabet book. He gets shooed out of his house, almost gets stepped on by hula dancers, says hi to a sea turtle, etc., before returning to his house for a good night sleep on a pair of zoris. What I am reminded of as I browse through this book is Alicia's post on Wednesday in which she said how important it is for the artist to take a child into a wonderful world using characters, angles, perspective and composition to make images that grab you at first glance.

Don Robinson has done just that in this charming and colorful book. The colors and images of Hawaii shine through and the world through the gecko's eyes is big and bold and imaginative.

Don Robinson was born and raised on O'ahu and has been an artist and illustrator for over twenty-five years. He has illustrated numberous local children's books and his artwork can be seen throughout local galleries.