It falls to few people to be able to create a lasting cultural icon.  May Gibbs did exactly that with her Gumnut Babies, especially Cuddlepot, Snugglepie and the terrifying figures of the Big, Bad Banksia Men. 

Born in 1877 in England (but arriving in Australia in 1881), May Gibbs provided a whole mythology of the Australian bush for generations raised firmly in European traditions of fairies and forest sprites.  While her books were still rooted strongly in those traditional forms for story and characterization, they used native Australian flora and fauna with pride and visual accuracy to create an integrated world that could exist in the backyards of their local readers.
A droll commentary on Australian everyday life during the first half of the 20th century - work, play, gender roles, culture - also runs through the stories, ensuring their local identity is much more than just decoration.

Much of her work and heritage is now in the public arena supporting charities (she left the rights to her works to care for disabled children), gardens, illustration and literature activities.

• Biographies from the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Ozlit, and the State Library of New South Wales
• The Nutcote Trust pages include a detailed biography based on a 1969 interview 
• Austlit has a biography and lists of May Gibb's works and prizes, and you can search further in the database for reviews and analysis
• Some information on the work of the May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust in supporting Australian children's authors and illustrators.

For a broader list, have a browse through the Australian Authors and Illustrators page from the NSW branch of the Australian School Library Association

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Page maintained by David Beagley  -  last updated 2 November 2004
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