Mem Fox
Mem Fox was born in Australia, grew up in Africa, studied drama in England, and returned to Adelaide, Australia in 1970. She was an Associate Professor in Literacy Studies at Flinders University in Adelaide until her early retirement in 1996.
Mem is Australia’s most highly regarded picture-book author. Her first book, Possum Magic, is the bestselling children’s book ever in Australia, with sales of over two million. And in the USA, Time for Bed and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge have each sold over a million copies. Time for Bed is on Oprah’s list of the twenty best children’s books of all time.
Mem has written 29 picture books for children and five non-fiction books for adults, including the bestselling Reading Magic, aimed at parents of very young children. Over the years she has received a huge number of awards and accolades in Australia, including two honorary doctorates. She is now an influential, hectic, grey-haired international consultant in literacy, who has visited the States over eighty times, although she pretends to be a redhead who sits around writing full time.
In 2008 there will be a new edition of Guess What? and a gorgeous Possum Magic pop-up book.
Mem's newest picture book Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes is currently Number 8 on the New York Times Bestseller List and is published by Harcourt in the USA. It is soon to be published by Walker Books in the UK and Penguin Australia.
Website: http://www.memfox.com
Books by Mem Fox
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Possum Magic
Grandma Poss uses her best bush magic to make Hush invisible. But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums must make their way across Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible once more.
Illustrated by Julie Vivas
Highly Commended, Children's Book Council Awards, 1984
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NSW Premier's Children's Book Award, 1984
Dramatised as a musical, 1989
On best seller lists for 32 months
More than 2 million copies sold
21 years old in 2005 and still in hardcover -
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
A small boy, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, knows and likes all of the old people in the home next door, but his favorite is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, for she also has four names. Hearing that she has lost her memory, he gathers up memories of his own to share with his friend.
Illustrated by Julie Vivas
Dramatised by Windmill Theatre, 2005
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American Library Association Notable Book, 1985
TV rights sold to WBZ, Boston Westinghouse Broadcasting
ALA Notable Filmstrip -
Hattie And The Fox
I can see a nose and two eyes in the bushes!" cries Hattie. But nobody is listening. She tries again and again to warn her friends of danger, but nobody listens to Hattie. That is, until they all realize that what Hattie is saying is true!
Illustrated by Patricia Mullins
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Sail Away: The Ballad Of Skip And Nell
The dingo pair set out to sea – Their hearts were beating fast. Their boat was but a redgum log With neither sail nor mast.
Follow intrepid adventurers, Skip and Nell as they travel round Australia on their way to that boat race way out west.
Illustrated by Pamela Lofts
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Zoo Looking
Follow along as Flora and her dad have a fun-filled day looking at all the animals in the zoo.
Illustrated by Candace Whitman
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The Straight Line Wonder
Three straight lines are the best of friends. But when one of them gets tired of standing straight all the time, anything can happen.
Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal
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Guess What?
Through a series of yes or no questions, the personality and occupation of Daisy O’Grady are revealed - she’s a witch!
Illustrated by Vivienne Goodman
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Koala Lou
Koala Lou is the first born in a large family. She feels sad because her mother seems too busy to pay her any attention. Perhaps if she wins the tree-climbing at the Bush Olympics her mother might notice her again . . . Koala Lou starts her training right away!
An Australian classic.
Illustrated by Pamela Lofts
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Feathers And Fools
Long ago and far away, in a rambling garden beside a clear blue lake, two flocks of birds began to fear each other because of their differences. The fear grew and soon the birds became enemies, hoarding great quantities of weapons to protect themselves — until panic struck and the hope for peace seemed lost forever.
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Shoes From Grandpa
In a cumulative rhyme, family members describe the clothes they intend to give Jessie to go with her shoes from Grandpa.
Illustrated by Patricia Mullins
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Dear Mem Fox, I Have Read All Your Books Even The Pathetic Ones
The internationally acclaimed children’s book writer, on herself and on the art of writing and publishing children’s books.
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Time For Bed
Darkness is falling, and everywhere little ones are growing sleepy and being tucked into bed. Sleep tight!
Illustrated by Jane Dyer
More than 1.3 million copies sold
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Tough Boris
Boris von der Borch is a mean, greedy old pirate - tough as nails, through and through, like all pirates. Or is he?
Illustrated by Kathryn Brown
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Wombat Divine
Wombat is a cute and lovable character with a passion for the stage and a burning desire to be in the nativity play.
Illustrated by Kerry Argent
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Boo To A Goose
What would you rather do than say "BOO!" to a goose? Discover one child's alternatives with this delightful baker's dozen of rhymes.
Illustrated by David Miller
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Whoever You Are
Everyday all over the world, children are playing, laughing and crying. They may not look the same or speak the same language, but inside they are just like you. This magical story celebrates the differences in our lives that unite us all.
Illustrated by Leslie Staub
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Sleepy Bears
And in winter, bears sleep. But how do you convince six not-so-sleepy bear cubs to go to bed? Mother bear, of course, has found a way.
Illustrated by Kerry Argent
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Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild
Whether she's knocking over her juice, dripping yellow paint on the carpet, or ripping apart feather pillows, Harriet Harris is, well, pesky.
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
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Reading Magic
All parents want and expect their children to learn to read, but few realize they can get their kids on the road to reading long before they start school simply by reading aloud to them every day. With passion and humor, acclaimed author and internationally respected literacy expert Mem Fox tells readers how she herself became aware of the astonishing effects that reading aloud and bonding through books have on very young children.
Illustrated with cartoons by Judy Horacek
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The Magic Hat
One fine day, from out of town - and without any warning at all - a magic hat appears in the sky. It tumbles and bounces through the air and makes magic wherever it lands. Everyone is delighted as, one by one, the townspeople are transformed into giant playful animals. And then a wizard arrives. . . .
Illustrated by Tricia Tusa
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Where Is The Green Sheep?
Here is the blue sheep, and here is the red sheep. Here is the bath sheep, and here is the bed sheep. But where is the green sheep?
Winner Children's Book Council Book of the Year: Early Childhood, 2005
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Night Noises
Lily Laceby was nearly ninety and lived in a cottage in the hills with her dog, Butch Aggie, as her only companion. One wild winter evening, snug and warm by the fire, Lily drifted off to sleep. As she dreamed peacefully of bygone days, strange noises began to echo in the night, alarming Butch Aggie. Suddenly, as the commotion grew louder, Butch Aggie leaped up, hackles raised - who could be out on such a night?
Illustrated by Terry Denton
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Hunwick’s Egg
When a mysterious egg appears outside Hunwick's burrow, no one is certain what to think. And when it doesn't hatch right away, everyone is even more bewildered. Everyone, that is, but Hunwick. For Hunwick understands the egg. It is his friend. And he is the only one who knows its secret.
Illustrated by Pamela Lofts
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Sophie
Sophie loves her Grandpa. They are constant companions. Until one day there is no Grandpa...
Illustrated by Craig Smith
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Radical Reflections
With frequent use of anecdote and the barbed wit that her admirers have come to savour, Mem Fox presents a compelling argument in favour of the 'whole language' approach to reading and writing. This is a book filled with profound insights into the learning process, and it will challenge educators and parents to new ways of thinking about language, literacy and the ways we all acquire knowledge.
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A Bedtime Story
illustrated by Sisca Verwoert
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Memories
A photographic telling of Mem's life.
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English Essentials
With Lyn Wilkinson
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A Particular Cow
When a particular cow goes for her particular morning walk, usually nothing happens. Until one particular Saturday...
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Where the Giant Sleeps
One night a little boy dreams . . .
In a not-so-faraway land filled with fairies and pixies, goblins and ogres everyone sleeps with him. Everyone, that is, except the busy elves who sew with all their might - sewing a quilt of moon and stars to wrap around him.
A dreamy, magical bedtime story filled with fairytale characters that children know and love.
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Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
New York Times Bestseller
As everyone knows, nothing is sweeter than tiny baby fingers and chubby baby toes...
Mem Fox's playful words are accompanied by Helen Oxenbury's beautiful illustrations in this gorgeous celebration of baby fingers, baby toes and the joy that babies bring to everyone, everywhere, all over the world.
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