Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

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Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
Author May Gibbs
Country Australia
Language English
Genre(s) Children’s literature
Publisher Angus and Robertson Flag of Australia
Publication date 1918
Media type Illustrated
audiobook

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie are a series of childrens 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 and their adventures along with troubles with the villians of the story, the “Banskia Men”. The first book of the series, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: Their Wonderful Adventures was published in 1918.

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, the gumnut babies, are the protagonists of the story and are modelled on the appearance of 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 Bunbury, Western Australia, where she played as a child.[1] 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.

A Banksia man, from May Gibbs' Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
A Banksia man, from May Gibbs' Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

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]

Several productions have been based on the books. Richard Mills composed a ballet of the same name in 1987, which was produced for television. [3][4]

A spoken word recording, Australian classic children's collection, included the story as one of four works of children's literature.[4][5] Peter Combe adapted Snugglepot and Cuddlepie into a musical, which was first performed in 1992.[6] A musical titled The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom premiered at the Theatre Royal on 9 January 2007, adapted by John Clarke and Doug MacLeod, with adult actors playing the parts of the gumnut babies - Darren Gilshenan (Cuddlepie), Tim Richards (Snugglepot) and Ursula Yovich (Ragged Blossom). Unlike Combe's musical, the 2007 musical is a political satire.[7]

[edit] Snugglepot and Cuddlepie 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 1949 as, The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, with the cover declaring "Including Little Ragged Blossom and Little Obelia". [8][4][9]

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)
Snugglepot meets Mr Lizard (1970).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Seddon, George (1997). "Cuddlepie and other surrogates", Landprints: reflections on place and landscape. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 113-118. ISBN 0-521-65999. 
  2. ^ Jean Chapman. Cecilia May Gibbs (1877 - 1969). Nutcote - Home of May Gibbs. The Nutcote Trust. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. “All quotes are from a taped interview with May Gibbs produced by Hazel de Berg for the National Library of Australia, Canberra”
  3. ^ The adventures of Snugglepot, Cuddlepie and Ragged Blossom [videorecording] / designed and directed for television by George Cass ; choerography, Petal Miller Ashmole ; music, Richard Mills ; produced by Film Australia with the assistance of the Australian Ballet Foundation and the Victorian Arts Centre Trust.
  4. ^ a b c Snugglepot And Cuddlepie. Keyword. LISWA catalogue. “Catalogue results by keyword: "Snugglepot and Cuddlepie"”
  5. ^ Mike Hayes and others. (c2000). Snugglepot and Cuddlepie / by May Gibbs, Four classic Australian children's stories.. [Artarmon, N.S.W.]: ABC Audio. ISBN 064255689X (set); (Blinky Bill); 064255725X (Snugglepot and Cuddlepie); (Magic pudding); (Muddle-headed wombat). “Note: Title from slip case.” 
  6. ^ Snugglepot & Cuddlepie - The Musical. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  7. ^ The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom - Perth International Arts Festival 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  8. ^ [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
  9. ^ 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.