New Zealand and the world is paying tribute to this gifted lady for the joy and happy memories we have of reading her books and having them read to us. Her books are such that as children we will have read and reread our favourite one over and over. Miss McLeod remembers doing just that with The Witch in the Cherry Tree.
Margaret Mahy had a zest for life and an enthusiasm to celebrate the ordinary and live each day. All those who met her and spent time in her company felt uplifted and happy.
The Christchurch City Library has recorded Margaret Mahy describing how she got ideas for her stories. Here's what she said:
"Many stories, regardless of length, spring from a single image which makes connections with other current images or with images in memory.
I sometimes tell people about the initial incident, but seldom say that I am thinking about writing a story about it. Sometimes telling people is just one of the ways of helping myself to make up my mind about whether or not this is actually going to turn into a story. I want to hear what it sounds like.
My ideas mostly come from things that happen to me, but of course they are changed a great deal by the time the story is finished. The ideas begin with real things but I invent all sorts of things to add to them, or I change them in some way before the story is finished."
What is your favourite Margaret Mahy picture book? Or, have you read any of her novels?
What is it about Margaret Mahy stories that make you enjoy them so much?
Who is another children's author (focusing mainly on picture books) you love and why is it that you enjoy their books so much?
What is it about Margaret Mahy stories that make you enjoy them so much?
Who is another children's author (focusing mainly on picture books) you love and why is it that you enjoy their books so much?
Dear Room 24
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that Margaret Mahy died because she wrote exciting books. We love 'The Lion in the Meadow'. It is the favourite of quite a few of us.
We also like 'The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate', 'Me and My Dog' and lots of her other books.
We like her writing because she uses exciting words and many books are funny.
warm wishes
Mrs McKenzie and B4
Hi Mrs McKenzie and B4
DeleteI agree that it is very sad that she has passed away. She was very well known for her writing and her amazing story telling.
About three quarters of our class has either grown up reading her books or has read at least one of her books. When I was growing up I read some of her books such as, Bubble Trouble, The Lion in the Meadow and The Boy Who Got Followed Home. This week we will be reading lots more of her books so I will see if we have “The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate” and “Me and My Dog”
Your blogging buddy
Aimee