Gecko Press is launching its latest children's book Elfrida with the help of a flock of dancing, singing, performing sheep from the Kidz Club Performing Arts School. The performance is open to the public and will take place in front of an audience of more than 200 young schoolchildren and will combine humour, song, rhyme and dance.

Elfrida is the story of a sheep who decides to bring a little colour into her life. Bored by her white mop of hair she is inspired by a passing poodle to get a radical new cut and colour. Gecko Press is launching its latest children's book Elfrida with the help of a flock of dancing, singing, performing sheep from the Kidz Club Performing Arts School. The performance is open to the public and will take place in front of an audience of more than 200 young schoolchildren and will combine humour, song, rhyme and dance.

Elfrida is the story of a sheep who decides to bring a little colour into her life. Bored by her white mop of hair she is inspired by a passing poodle to get a radical new cut and colour.When the other sheep, and the farmer's wife, see Elfrida's new look they decide they all want to look gorgeous too.
"I chose this book because it is warm, exuberant and light-hearted," says Gecko Press publisher Julia Marshall. "I think it has a strong New Zealand connection, not only because of the sheep, but because it celebrates individuality."
Elfrida, originally published in Austria, is by the same illustrator as the successful Donkeys, the first release from Gecko Press.

Like Donkeys this book has been translated into English by Catherine Chidgey and adapted by Penelope Todd into rhyme.
With this title Gecko Press continues to give New Zealand children access to some of Europe's award-winning, popular, and beautifully illustrated books, publishing them in English for the first time.

Gecko Press publishes books which are strong in story, illustration and design, by authors and illustrators with a strong track record in a number of countries, and who are winners of international awards. Austrian illustrator Heide Stollinger was awarded the Illustration Award of the Austrian State Prize for Children's Literature in 1998 and 2003, and the Golden apple for the Biennale Bratislava in 1999. Klara Fall is a journalist in Austria.

Elfrida will be launched in Wellington's Civic Square at Capital E on the morning of Tuesday 18 July from 11.00 am.