Margaret Mahy, the famous writer of books for children and teenagers, died yesterday in Christchurch at the age of 76.
Her first stories appeared in the School Journals in the 1960s. Then overseas publishers became interested in her writing. The first book which sold around the world was A Lion in the Meadow, which was written in 1969. The New Zealand word for meadow is paddock but other countries did not use this word. Since then, she has written more than 200 books of stories and poems. Some of her books have been translated into 15 languages. She won many awards including the top award for a children’s writer – the Hans Christian Anderson award. She twice won the Carnegie Medal for best children’s writer. She was awarded the Order of New Zealand in 1993.
Today MPs in Parliament talked about her contribution to children’s writing in New Zealand and the world. The Prime Minister said that when he visited the UK recently he gave a Margaret Mahy book to the British Prime Minister for his children.
She had a wonderful imagination and still had ideas for more stories right until her death. She also had a skill for musical language – many of her books and poems are enjoyable to read aloud. She enjoyed reading her books to children too. She wore her rainbow coloured wig whenever she visited schools to read to children.
Vocabulary
paddock – field of grass
awards – prizes and medals; to award (verb) – to give a prize or medal