Let’s Celebrate May Gibbs and Norman Lindsay: 100th anniversary of The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and The Magic Pudding

To mark the 100^thanniversary of The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs and The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay, publisher Angus and Robertson (an imprint of Harper Collins Children’s Books), have published very special boxed gift editions of these two Australian children’s classics.

In 1918, we were introduced for the first time to the fantasy world that May Gibbs created in the Australian bush.

‘Here are the adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. They were foster brothers, and this is how it came about…’

Synonymous with many Australian childhoods, the much loved Snugglepot and Cuddlepie follows the two gumnut babies on their adventures through the Australian bush. The pages are filled with kookaburras, fantails, koalas, goannas, nuts and blossoms – these small creatures bring magic and intrigue to the Australia bush.

In this new edition all of the original artwork has been sourced and re-scanned, so the full colour illustrations look stunning. It also includes a comprehensive history with additional images and illustration by May Gibbs scattered throughout.

The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay is another famous Australian classic. Bunyip Bluegum, Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawn off along with their Magic Pudding have been familiar characters for generations of children over the last 100 years and their magic will inevitably endure for many more.

This new edition has also had the original artwork re-scanned so that the reader not only enjoys this wonderfully Australian story – with its traditional Australian brand of humour – but also enjoys Norman Lindsay’s world-famous artwork.

A wonderful inclusion in this special anniversary edition are fascinating letters from the publisher’s archives and original reviews from the very first edition.

‘There is a long summer’s day of Australian sunshine between the covers of ‘The Magic Pudding…’ The Bulletin.

Over 100 years in print, both books have had a variety of beautiful covers but if you are after a really special edition to pass on to a child in your life, or like to add it to your home library, then make sure you grab a copy.

Purchase a copy of The Complete Adventure of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and The Magic Pudding 

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. Read more about May Gibbs

Norman Lindsay is widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest artists, producing a vast body of work in different media. He is perhaps most famous for his children’s classic, The Magic Pudding, but also published numerous other books for adults. Read more about Norman Lindsay