Snugglepot and Cuddlepie is a series of books written by Australian author May Gibbs. The books chronicle the adventures of the eponymous Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. The central story arc concerns Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (who are essentially homunculi) and their adventures along with troubles with the villains of the story, the "Banksia Men". The first book of the series, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: their wonderful adventures was published in 1918.
Description
Gumnut babies postcard
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, the gumnut babies, are the protagonists of the story and are modelled on young eucalyptus (gum tree) nuts. The female gumnut babies, however, have their hair, hats and skirts modelled on eucalyptus flowers.
May Gibbs based some of the characters and scenery on the plants found in the bushland of Harvey, Western Australia, where she played as a child.[1]
A Banksia Man, from May Gibbs' Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
The "big bad" Banksia Men are the villains of the story and are modelled on the appearance of aged Banksia "cones", with follicles for eyes and other facial features.
We came to a grove of Banksia trees and sitting on almost every branch were these ugly little, wicked little men that I discovered and that's how the Banksia Men were thought of.[2]
Books
May Gibbs wrote a number of titles based on her creations. The first publication was in 1918, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: their adventures wonderful, and the set of works was first collected in 1940[3] as, The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, with the cover declaring Including Little Ragged Blossom and Little Obelia.[4][5][6][7]
Others are
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie find Ragged Blossom.
Little Ragged Blossom and more about Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
Little Obelia and further adventures of ragged Blossom, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie on Board the Snag/the Original Characters Created By May Gibbs; Redrawn By Noela Young; Adapted By David Harris. (1975)
Tibby's Leaf by Ursula Dubosarsky, the story of child who sees gumnut babies in the bush at the outbreak of World War One, was inspired by Gibbs' World War One gumnut baby postcards which are held in the collection of the National Museum of Australia.[13]
Honours
In 1985 a postage stamp honouring the protagonists or their creator was issued by Australia Post as part of a set of five commemorating children's books.
Northcott and Cerebral Palsy Alliance
On 27 November 1969 May Gibbs died. On passing she bequeathed royalties of her Snugglepot and Cuddlepie creations jointly to the Northcott Society and Cerebral Palsy Alliance (formerly known as The Spastic Centre). Since then both charitable organisations have been able to use these royalties to further their respective programmes helping children and adults with disabilities.
↑[First published: 1918. sic] - Cover Contents; Snugglepot and Cuddlepie -- Little Ragged Blossom and more about Snugglepot & Cuddlepie -- Little Obelia and further adventures of Ragged Blossom, Snugglepot & Cuddlepie
↑Gibbs, May, 1877-1969. Sydney: Angus & Robertson, [1918] (Sydney: W.C. Penfold) 87 p., [1] leaf of plates: ill. (1 col.); 25 cm. [Date from Muir.] Ill. on lining papers.
↑"Snugglepot and Cuddlepie". Discover collections: May Gibbs. State Library New South Wales. Archived from the original on 25 November 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
↑The adventures of Snugglepot, Cuddlepie and Ragged Blossom [videorecording] / designed and directed for television by George Cass; choreography, Petal Miller Ashmole; music, Richard Mills; produced by Film Australia with the assistance of the Australian Ballet Foundation and the Victorian Arts Centre Trust.
↑Mike Hayes; etal. (c. 2000). Snugglepot and Cuddlepie / by May Gibbs. Four classic Australian children's stories. [Artarmon, N.S.W.]: ABC Audio. ISBN0-642-55689-X. (set); (Blinky Bill); (Snugglepot and Cuddlepie); (Magic pudding); (Muddle-headed wombat). Note: Title from slip case.
