
Vivid Memories of May Gibbs’s Gumnut Babies On Their 100th Anniversary
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I grew up in the mythos of Gumnut Babies. I don’t even remember when I first started to read The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, by May Gibbs. The stories have simply always been a part of me. Gumnut babies are easily one of the most famous Australian childhood classics. The illustrations by May Gibbs are…so…Australian. All of the native flora blended with these adorable little cherubs who live with anthropomorphised wildlife. It completely changed how I bushwalk, that’s for certain.
This year, the annual Vivid Sydney Festival included a tribute to the 100th anniversary of May Gibbs’s Gumnut Babies. From now until Sunday, 16 June, 2018, a beautiful short animated story is being projected on to the front facade of Sydney’s Customs House. The story is about Snugglepot and Cuddlepie sneaking out to explore the ‘big city’ with their friend, Ragged Blossom. It includes all the favourites, like Mr. Lizard, Little Obelia, and the terrifying Banksia Man. It’s a perfect introduction for kids and a short skip down memory lane for adults who grew up with the stories.
If you are visiting the festival, Customs House is located down near Circular Quay, across the road from the train station and ferry terminal. You won’t need to hang around for too long; the story is on repeat with only a few minutes between each cycle.
If you are unable to attend the Vivid Sydney Festival, here’s a behind-the-scenes short about the project.
While I adore her art, filled with characters and dreamy details, I will always remember her for her stories. The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie was the first book I read which featured Australian environments and creatures. For the first time, I was reading a book with trees and flowers and animals I had seen! Characters I could point out in the gardens around me! I vividly recall seeing a dried out Banksia flower and screaming at my mother about the villainous Banksia Men…Okay, that one took a little while to recover from, but it taught me more about the native flora than any book since. Even as an adult, I still peer into every gumnut I find on the ground; just in case a gumnut baby might be hiding inside.
If you have the chance to see the Gumnut Babies tribute during Vivid Sydney, do it! It is also worthwhile visiting her studio at Nutcote in Sydney, including the gardenings she kept for inspiration.
And if you are unable to do either of these, you can still share in the beauty of her books. The 100th anniversary for Gumnut Babies is the best time to introduce you to the world of May Gibbs, and the imagination of Australian children.
Looking for more about Australian children’s books? Check out Australian Children’s Book Week: Awesome Possum Magic Coins, and Aussie Kids’ Books.