Congratulations to Margaret Wild

Congratulations to Margaret Wild

Margaret Wild is one of Australia's most highly respected picture-book creators. She has published over seventy books for young people which have been translated, read and loved across the world. 

Her work explores themes such as identity, death, homelessness, friendship and bullying - through nuanced characters and captivating stories. Her seminal work, Fox, illustrated by Ron Brooks, was considered an Australian Classic the moment it was published. It won the CBCA book of the year, the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards for a Children's Book as well as Germany’s most prestigious prize for children’s literature in 2004. Australia Council 

Margaret Wild is the author of so many books which I love to share with children of all ages. As a bonus her splendid writing has allowed many talented illustrators here in Australia to really shine. You may recognise some famous names such as Julie Vivas, Ann James, Ron Brooks, Gregory Rogers, Freya Blackwood, Kerry Argent, Noela Young, Deborah Niland, Donna Rawlins and Kim Gamble.

Here are just a few books to highlight the range of Margaret's writing for different ages and which show her very different themes.

Something Absolutely Enormous is one of Margaret's earliest books. It is so beautifully structured. An astute reader might predict exactly how this enormous knitted creation might actually become quite useful when the circus big top tent is destroyed in a fire.  The repeated text makes the book fun to read aloud and the twist on the last page is sure to bring a smile.

Little Humpty is such fun to read aloud. Every child has asked that all important question "are we there yet?" The language in this book is exquisite and again the repetition gives a perfect pace to the story. I especially love the relationship between Big Humpty and Little Humpty.

Puffling is one my most favourite books of all time! After reading this book aloud for many years I was able to travel to Fair Isle in Scotland to see puffins. The story arc for Puffling is perfect. Our new baby asks three important questions - Am I strong enough, Am I tall enough, Am I brave enough. Over the months he grows and eventually he can leave the burrow. Julie Vivas perfectly captures every emotional moment.

Lucy Goosey is also a book I love to read aloud every year. I amazed myself to discover I had not talked in depth about this book on this blog. Lucy is very frightened of change but her mother and the other geese need to head off on their migration flight. Lucy hides and everyone leaves but in a beautiful moment of love her mother returns and asks Lucy to explain her fears. Once she is reassured all will be well Lucy feels able to set off with her mother into the wide blue sky.

Tom goes to Kindergarten is such fun. Mum and Dad have a great day at preschool. They enjoy it so much they want to return for anther day of fun. Our little panada hero has to be firm and tell mum and dad to leave and go back to their ordinary daily lives but perhaps the adults will never have an ordinary day ever again.

The Pocket Dogs - Mr Pockets loves his two little pocket dogs Biff and Buff but sadly he cannot understand their language. In the first book one little pup falls out of his pocket - I still gasp when I think about the little pup lying on the floor of a busy supermarket. There are three books in this series.

Thank you Santa is a book of letters written over the course of a whole year. At its heart this is a book about the importance of thinking of others and being kind.  Samantha sees the hot polar bears in an Australian zoo. Christmas is summer time. Those bears need something important for their Christmas present this year.

Bogtrotter is forced to think about his life. He enjoys his daily routines but something important is missing.

Robber Girl is a very different story from others I have mentioned here. It feels like a Russian folk tale. I like to read it to children in Grades 4-6. There is a wonderful point in the story near the end where the characters have to make an important decision about how to act. At this point I stop reading and we discuss options for both the character and the author.

This is one of my favourite Margaret Wild tiles. Themes in this book are coveting something belonging to another, theft, honesty, remorse, guilt, confession and forgiveness.  I know they sound like heavy themes but the magical writing of Margaret Wild means all of this is handled which a very light tough all enhanced by glorious illustrations by Kerry Argent. The Last Potoroo visits Miss Lilly and falls in love with her and her beautiful feather boa. The Last Potoroo snips off a tiny fragment of the boa but then discovers this crime does not bring her happiness.

Toby is illustrated by the late Noela Young. It is a sad story about an old dog who eventually dies but this difficult topic is handled gently and skillfully both by Margaret Wild and by Noela.

In The Stone Lion two homeless children seek shelter outside the library. It is freezing and snowing. In a beautiful scene the children are rescued by one of the stone lions and in the warmth of the library their lives are transformed.

Tanglewood is a highly evocative story about the impact of isolation and the forces of nature. It is also an allegory about relationships, families and the importance of friendship.

Old Pig is a very beautiful story about our life journey and the way that journey might end. Old Pig is preparing to die. Ron Brooks has created very gentle illustrations. This is a book to read slowly and it is also a book that, if read at the right time, may help a child make sense of the journey we all travel in our lives.

Reading Fox is an excellent way to appreciate the power of Margaret Wild and her story telling. I was lucky enough to hear Ron Brooks talk about this book and then read it aloud for a small audience many years ago. When Ron read this text for this book it affected him profoundly and this is the way it is sure to affect you. Themes of jealousy, betrayal, trust, dishonesty, cunning, kindness and true friendship are explored in a book that should be shared with all older Primary level students.

Space Travellers is an important book that looks at the confronting issue of homeless people. Once again this difficult topic is handled with a very gentle touch.  Zac and his mum are spending their nights in a rocket which is actually part of the play equipment in a local park. Zac loves exploring the night sky from the top of the rocket but is is clear their situation is actually quite desperate.

I have read Let the Celebrations Begin to Grade Six classes in my school library every year since 1991. That means I have read this book aloud over 120 times to hundreds of students and every time I read this book I cry - such is the power of the words and images. This book is set during the holocaust of WWII. How can this be a celebration? The women in the camp prepare toys because they know one day they will be free and when that day happens they plan to be ready with a celebration where every child will receive a toy - a toy of their own. Out of all the books by Margaret Wild Let the Celebrations Begin is my absolute favourite.

An outstanding book, filled with reverent awe at the nobility of the human spirit. Kirkus

There are so many more books I could mention.  Here are just a few more wonderful titles:

The Very Best of Friends illustrated by Julie Vivas
The Treasure Box illustrated by Freya Blackwood
Jenny Angel illustrated by Anne Spudvilas
Harry and Hopper illustrated by Freya Blackwood
First Day illustrated by Kim Gamble
My Dearest Dinosaur illustrated by Donna Rawlins
Night Night illustrated by Kerry Argent
Chatterbox illustrated by Deborah Niland
Mr Nick's Knitting illustrated by Dee Huxley
Goodbye House, Hello House illustrated by Ann James
The Dream of the Thylacine illustrated by Ron Brooks
Woolvs in the sitee illustrated by Anne Spudvilas
The Feather illustrated by Freya Blackwood
The Midnight Gang illustrated by Ann James