It’s Aussie Author April!
Bronwyn Parry, a fellow Hachette Author, has a wonderful post on one of her favourite Australian authors, Ethel Turner. It took me back to being a child, sitting in front of my Grandmother’s black and white TV, watching Seven Little Australians and sucking my thumb as the dramas unfolded. I loved the series and was devastated when Judy died. The last time I reread the story I still cried at the end.
It got me to thinking about the stories I read as a child. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs has to top that list. We had a holiday getaway at Currumbin beach – the original fibro shack – and it was surrounded by banksia trees. As a child, every one of those trees was full of the villains of the  piece – the ‘banksia men’. I think I saw myself as a gumnut baby and can remember tip-toeing down the outside stairs in the dark of night to the bathroom underneath the house, wondering if the Banskia men would get me!
The sketches in the books of the gumnut babies and the banksia men were so familiar, so recognisable, I don’t think I’ve ever looked at a Banksia cone without remembering Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
The story arc was the familiar good vs evil. The setting was distinctively Australian. Do children today still love those stories?
I hope so.
The drawing were beautiful, Kylie, and so very clever.
My mum always buys the grandchildren Snuggle Pot ad Cuddle Pie when they reach an appropriate age. Since we all loved them I’m sure they will too!
I loved the drawigns in all of May Gibbs books – they were my favourite books to borrow when I was in about 3rd or 4th class. I loved how they used the nuts and leaves as everyday things like cups and pots and hammocks etc.
When I borrow a bulk loan from the school library I try to do it in themes. Australiana was one month’s theme and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and Mr.Goanna were characters I shared with my class.
GIving these books as a gift to a child today would be a wonderful way to keep the love for these Aussie classics alive. Especially if you’re able to read them with the child you give them to and share the experiences you had as a child with them.
Hi Suzanne, another May Gibb and Enid Blyton devotee! I know there are wonderful children’s authors today but I guess ‘first learnt best remembered’ rings true for stories as well 🙂
Go Sandy! Very excited you’re entering the VPA. I do think those competitions are worth their weight in gold for the feedback. I haven’t read the Faraway Tree for years!!
Cathy’s been unwell, Sandy so she’ll be back on the blog when she’s up and about again 🙂
Oh My…. Snuggle and Cuddle… I recall those stories Helene. May Gibbs. Such a wonderful writer. Also, as Sandy mentioned, my favourite of them all, ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ which I believe is called differently these days. The Faraway Tree, and there is another name, but the orignal was ‘The Magic Faraway Tree.’ The washawoman, lol.. what a great childhood story. Moonface. lol… geeish… Youth of today do not know what they have missed. 🙂
Hi Helene!
Sorry I’ve been MIA. We’ve been on holidays and I’ve been trying to write a half decent synopsis for the VPA. Back to work last week to find the doodoo had hit the fan.
The good news is I’ve finished the synopsis and will format my entry today and get it away – then I can start writing again! Yay!! 🙂
So, Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie, hmm? Oh yes, every gum nut I saw after that took on the cute innocence of those two. And doesn’t it just go to show if a book is well written its enjoyment isn’t confined to the age it was written for? I re-read Enid Blyton’s ‘The Faraway Tree’ again recently. I think I loved it even more.
Goes to show what a great imagination May Gibbs had, though I do feel sorry for the poor old banksia!
Do you know if Cathy answered my query?