Great review for Edith-Spinoff (NZ)

AUG 2026 In The Spinoff, the popular online magazine of New Zealand.

Edith: the Girl Who Was 100 Years Old by Catharina Valckx (Age 6+)

There’s that lie about books and their covers, but is judging by the title allowed? Because this one’s a goodie, it raises some big questions, and that’s what the book continues to do. The first page reads, “I know what you’re thinking. A hundred years old? She’s more like eight isn’t she? Or nine.” But she’s been that way for 100 years, so on her birthday Edith sets off with a wise dog and a talking lemon to find the fairy who bewitched her and reverse the spell. Edith’s wise eyes, patterned dresses and rucksack are illustrated delightfully and anthropomorphised objects like an irritating grandfather clock and an overexcited dingy are equally expressive. As someone who clung to childhood for as long as possible this is a very special book; it highlights the difficulty and wonder of change. Hilarious and absurd but philosophical and gorgeously illustrated it gives kids a lot of credit for their smarts – a very Gecko Press book that really understands the humour and curiosities of its audience. / Elka

Thank you so much Elka

Trad. française:
"....Pour moi qui ai tenté de prolonger mon enfance aussi longtemps que possible, ce livre est très particulier ; il met en lumière à la fois la difficulté et la magie du changement. À la fois hilarant, absurde, philosophique et magnifiquement illustré, il fait preuve d’une grande confiance en l’intelligence des enfants : c’est un ouvrage typique de Gecko Press,
une maison d’édition qui saisit parfaitement l’humour et la curiosité de son jeune public."