May Gibbs – An Australian Household Name After More Than A Century
If there's one name synonymous with classic Australian Children's literature, it's May Gibbs. One of the most beloved Australian authors and cartoonists, May Gibbs was a road-paver, a way-maker, and a pioneer in a male-dominated field. Not only was she the first female newspaper cartoonist, but she also holds the record for the longest-running strip continuously produced by a single artist (1924-1967).
Gibbs was already a household name when her first comic strip was published one hundred years ago this year. And one hundred years later, she's still a beloved household name.
Capturing Hearts Worldwide
May Gibbs captured the country's imagination with her bush fantasy, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, which introduced the world to the Gumnut Babies and the villainous Banksia men. The stories she wrote and illustrated captivated readers with unforgettable characters and compelling tales. But it was also the way our fauna and flora were woven into the books that made them uniquely Australian. In fact, many of her illustrations were inspired by the plant life she grew up with in Harvey, Western Australia.
From her Australian picture books to her comic strips and weekly columns, May Gibbs was never one to slow down. Her work was imbued with moments of daily life and interests, touching on her love of gardening and camping.
Her Mr and Mrs Bear characters were loosely based on her and her husband, and her stories were filled with references to her home, dogs, and car, weaving reality with fiction. She also bravely wrote for a rival newspaper using a pseudonym, producing Tiggy Touchwood, another successful cartoon strip.
An Enduring Legacy
Upon her death in 1969, just two years after her final comic strip was published, Gibbs bequeathed the copyright of her characters, stories and designs to Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Northcott Disability Services, with money also going to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. She gave everything to her art during her lifetime, and in her death, she ensured that not only would her art persist, but it would benefit others who needed it.
The classic works of May Gibbs have never gone out of style, an astonishing feat for any writer. In fact, her continuing popularity has seen a surge in gorgeous collectables and May Gibbs-inspired books. From May Gibbs artwork to May Gibbs clothing, fans both old and new are spoilt for choice!
And as a new generation of Aussie kids is introduced to the magic of May Gibbs, usually by a parent or grandparent who was raised reading May’s wonderful books, too, it seems that Gibbs will remain a much-loved part of Australian children’s literature.