Mem Fox

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Mem Fox, AM (born March 5, 1946) is an Australian author of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy.

Born Merrion Frances Partridge, Fox prefers to be called "Mem", as she detests her birth given name.[citation needed] She was born in Melbourne, Australia but grew up in Zimbabwe.[1] Her parents were missionaries and she attended the mission school. When she was eighteen, the harsh treatment of blacks in Zimbabwe pushed her away from the place where she grew up[citation needed] and she went to England where she was accepted into an English Drama school.[1]

In 1969, Fox married her husband Malcolm, a teacher.[1] The following year she returned to Australia with her husband and in 1971 gave birth to her only child Chloë, who is a member of the South Australian Parliament.

In 2004 a portrait of Fox, titled The Storyteller by the artist Henny Van den Wildenberg, was a finalist in the Archibald Prize.

Fox is retired and lives in a suburb of Adelaide with her husband and dogs, near the sea and close to her daughter.[1]

Contents

[edit] Teaching career

In 1981, while working in drama, Fox decided to retrain in literacy studies and says: "Literacy has become the great focus of my life — it’s my passion, my battle and my mission and my exhaustion."[1] She has published books on literacy aimed at children, their parents and teachers and educators. She held the position of Associate Professor, Literacy Studies, in the School of Education at Flinders University until her retirement from teaching in 1996.[1] Since her retirement from teaching, Fox travels around the world visiting many countries and doing presentations and speaking on literacy issues.[1]

Fox is a patron of the Windmill Performing Arts, an Australian professional theatre company for child and young adult audiences.

[edit] Possum Magic

Fox wrote her first draft for the internationally acclaimed Possum Magic in 1978 during a course in children’s literature at Flinders University. Nine publishers rejected the draft over a five year period. When it was accepted by Omnibus Books in Adelaide they asked Fox to reduce the 4½ page book, then entitled Hush the Invisible Mouse, by two thirds and to change the mice to Australian animals to place emphasis on her Australian theme. Possum Magic is now one of the most recognised picture book within Australia and has sold over 3 million copies world wide.[citation needed]

The two main characters in Possum Magic are Grandma Poss and Hush. Hush has been made invisible by her Grandma to protect her from the dangers of the Australian bush. The story details the duo's adventures as they tour Australia searching for the secret to Hush's visibility. It is a rhythmical story of Australia's varied landscapes and the animals that live in them.

Fox writes Australian-based books for children because she feels that there is a lack of such books. She writes in a lyrical form with phrases that are simple and straight to the point, often with rhyme.

[edit] Guess What?

The book, Guess What? appears as number sixty-sixth on the American list of the 100 most challenged books 1990 to 2000.[2]

Groups and agencies can challenge a book to prevent it from being available to be read by the general public. Challenges can be initiated at the local and community level and not all challenges result in withdrawal of the book. For the list there is a disclaimer that it does not claim to be comprehensive. Research by the ALA suggests that for every challenge counted four or five challenges are not reported.

[edit] Awards and recognition

[edit] Works

[edit] Children's books

  • Possum Magic (1983) illustrated by Julie Vivas
  • Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (1984) illustrated by Julie Vivas
  • A Cat called Kite (1985) illustrated by K. Hawley
  • Zoo-Looking (1986) illustrated by Rodney McRae
  • Arabella, the Smallest Girl in the World (1986) illustrated by Vicky Kitanov
  • Hattie and the Fox (1986) illustrated by Patricia Mullins
  • Just Like That (1986) with Kilmeny Niland
  • Sail Away: The Ballad of Skip and Nell (1986) illustrated by Pamela Lofts
  • The Straight Line Wonder (1987) illustrated by Meredith Thomas
  • A Bedtime Story (1987) illustrated by Sisca Verwoert
  • Goodnight Sleep Tight (1988) illustrated by Helen Semmler
  • Guess What? (1988) with Vivienne Goodman
  • Koala Lou (1988) illustrated by Pamela Lofts
  • With Love at Christmas (1988) illustrated by Fay Plamka
  • Night Noises (1989) illustrated by Terry Denton
  • Feathers and Fools (1989) illustrated by Lorraine Ellis
  • Shoes from Grandpa (1989) illustrated by Patricia Mullins
  • Sophie (1989) illustrated by Craig Smith
  • Time for Bed (1993) illustrated by Jane Dyer
  • Tough Boris (1994) illustrated by Kathryn Brown
  • Wombat Divine (1995) illustrated by Kerry Argent
  • Boo to a Goose (1996) illustrated by David Miller
  • Whoever You Are (1998) illustrated by Leslie Staub
  • Sleepy Bears (1999) illustrated by Kerry Argent
  • Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild! (2000) illustrated by Marla Frazee
  • The Magic Hat (2002) illustrated by Tricia Tusa
  • Where Is The Green Sheep? (2004) illustrated by Judy Horacek
  • Hunwick’s Egg (2005) illustrated by Pamela Lofts
  • Fairy, Fairy Quite Contrary (2005) illustrated by Greg Swearingen
  • A Particular Cow (2006) illustrated by Terry Denton
  • Where the Giant Sleeps (2007) pictures by Vladimir Radunsky

[edit] Non-fiction

  • Thereby Hangs a Tale (1980)
  • How to Teach Drama to Infants Without Really Crying (Australian title) (1984) (Teaching Drama to Young Children (USA title) (1987))
  • Mem’s the Word (1990 - Australian title) (Dear Mem Fox (1992 - USA title)
  • English essentials : the wouldn’t-be-without-it guide to writing well (1993) with Lyn Wilkinson
  • Memories : an autobiography (1992)
  • Radical reflections : passionate opinions on teaching, learning, and living (1993)
  • Reading Magic (2001)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Life Story. Mem Fox website. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  2. ^ The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000. American Library Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  3. ^ Dromkeen Medal. Scholastic. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
  4. ^ Its and Honour - 26 January 1993. Australian Government. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  5. ^ It's an Honour - 1 January 2001. Australian Government. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[edit] External links