About Margaret Mahy
Margaret Mahy was born in New Zealand in 1936, the eldest of five children, with a huge extended family in the surrounding neighbourhood, and from the beginning her vivid imagination and love of storytelling sometimes confused reality and fantasy. She was a solitary little tomboy, living in her own world and talking out loud to herself. She knew she would be A Writer.
She studied philosophy at university in Auckland and Christchurch, and then qualified as a librarian, specialising in children's reading. She brought up her two daughters alone, which at the time meant life was often tough. In 1968, an American publisher spotted one of her stories published in a journal issued to New Zealand schools. They asked for more and Margaret sent them one hundred - fifteen years of unpublished work. They were taken and she really was A Writer.
Since then, Margaret has published well over a hundred titles and won several major prizes and awards including the highest honour New Zealand offers, The Order of New Zealand, limited to 20 living people, for her internationally-acclaimed contribution to children's literature. Besides this, she has twice won the prestigious Carnegie Medal, ('The Haunting', 1982, and 'The Changeover' 1984) In the States too, her books are rapturously received, several having been chosen as ALA Notables and Best Books of the Year. Margaret Mahy 's books are translated into more than fifteen languages.
Margaret says, 'It is in the nature of books, that they have the capacity to make you feel powerful about what you can alter and achieve in your life'
Margaret now lives in a house overlooking Governors Bay in the South Island of New Zealand, which she partly built herself and regularly travels to Europe to promote her books and talk at conferences.
She studied philosophy at university in Auckland and Christchurch, and then qualified as a librarian, specialising in children's reading. She brought up her two daughters alone, which at the time meant life was often tough. In 1968, an American publisher spotted one of her stories published in a journal issued to New Zealand schools. They asked for more and Margaret sent them one hundred - fifteen years of unpublished work. They were taken and she really was A Writer.
Since then, Margaret has published well over a hundred titles and won several major prizes and awards including the highest honour New Zealand offers, The Order of New Zealand, limited to 20 living people, for her internationally-acclaimed contribution to children's literature. Besides this, she has twice won the prestigious Carnegie Medal, ('The Haunting', 1982, and 'The Changeover' 1984) In the States too, her books are rapturously received, several having been chosen as ALA Notables and Best Books of the Year. Margaret Mahy 's books are translated into more than fifteen languages.
Margaret says, 'It is in the nature of books, that they have the capacity to make you feel powerful about what you can alter and achieve in your life'
Margaret now lives in a house overlooking Governors Bay in the South Island of New Zealand, which she partly built herself and regularly travels to Europe to promote her books and talk at conferences.
Series
Cousins Quartet
1. The Good Fortunes Gang (1993)
2. A Fortunate Name (1993)
3. A Fortune Branches Out (1993)
4. Tangled Fortunes (1994)
1. The Good Fortunes Gang (1993)
2. A Fortunate Name (1993)
3. A Fortune Branches Out (1993)
4. Tangled Fortunes (1994)
Novels
Bus Under the Leaves (1975)
The Pirate Uncle (1977)
The Great Piratical Rumbustification (1981)
The Haunting (1982)
The Pirates Mixed-Up Voyage (1983)
The Changeover (1984)
The Birthday Burglar (1984)
Aliens in the Family (1985)
The Catalogue of the Universe (1986)
The Tricksters (1986)
Memory (1987)
The Blood-and-Thunder Adventure on Hurricane Peak (1988)
Raging Robots and Unruly Uncles (1990)
The Seven Chinese Brothers (1990)
Dangerous Spaces (1991)
Underrunners (1992)
The World in 1492 (1992)
The Greatest Show Off Earth (1994)
Tingleberries, Tuckertubs and Telephones (1995)
The Other Side of Silence (1995)
Midnight Story (1996)
The Five Sisters (1996)
The Horribly Haunted School (1997)
Operation Terror (1997)
Down in the Dump with Dinsmore (1999)
A Villain's Night Out (1999)
Twenty-four Hours (2000)
The Riddle of the Frozen Phantom (2001)
Alchemy (2002)
The Gargling Gorilla (2003)
Maddigan's Fantasia (2006)
The Very Wicked Headmistress (2006)
The Pirate Uncle (1977)
The Great Piratical Rumbustification (1981)
The Haunting (1982)
The Pirates Mixed-Up Voyage (1983)
The Changeover (1984)
The Birthday Burglar (1984)
Aliens in the Family (1985)
The Catalogue of the Universe (1986)
The Tricksters (1986)
Memory (1987)
The Blood-and-Thunder Adventure on Hurricane Peak (1988)
Raging Robots and Unruly Uncles (1990)
The Seven Chinese Brothers (1990)
Dangerous Spaces (1991)
Underrunners (1992)
The World in 1492 (1992)
The Greatest Show Off Earth (1994)
Tingleberries, Tuckertubs and Telephones (1995)
The Other Side of Silence (1995)
Midnight Story (1996)
The Five Sisters (1996)
The Horribly Haunted School (1997)
Operation Terror (1997)
Down in the Dump with Dinsmore (1999)
A Villain's Night Out (1999)
Twenty-four Hours (2000)
The Riddle of the Frozen Phantom (2001)
Alchemy (2002)
The Gargling Gorilla (2003)
Maddigan's Fantasia (2006)
The Very Wicked Headmistress (2006)
Omnibus
Great Piratical Rumbustification / Librarian and the Robbers (1986)
Birthday Burglar / Very Wicked Headmistress (1988)
Birthday Burglar / Very Wicked Headmistress (1988)
Collections
Story Book (1972)
Story Book No. 2 (1973)
The Third Story Book (1975)
Leaf Magic (1976)
Nonstop Nonsense (1977)
The Chewing-gum Rescue and Other Stories (1982)
Mahy Magic (1986)
The Downhill Crocodile Whizz and Other Stories (1986)
The Horrible Story and Others (1987)
Leaf Magic and Five Other Stories (1988)
The Boy Who Bounced and Other Magic Tales (1988)
The Door in the Air and Other Stories (1988)
The Tin Can Band and Other Poems (poems) (1989)
Chocolate Porridge and Other Stories (1989)
Bubble Trouble (1991)
A Tall Story and Other Tales (1991)
The Girl with the Green Ear: Stories About Magic in Nature (1992)
Tick Tock Tales: Stories to Read Around the Clock (1993)
A Lion in the Meadow and Other Favourite Stories (1993)
Wonderful Me!: Stories And Poems (2002)
Wait for Me! (2003)
Shock Forest: And Other Stories (2004)
Don't Read This! (2004)
Watch Me! (2004)
Story Book No. 2 (1973)
The Third Story Book (1975)
Leaf Magic (1976)
Nonstop Nonsense (1977)
The Chewing-gum Rescue and Other Stories (1982)
Mahy Magic (1986)
The Downhill Crocodile Whizz and Other Stories (1986)
The Horrible Story and Others (1987)
Leaf Magic and Five Other Stories (1988)
The Boy Who Bounced and Other Magic Tales (1988)
The Door in the Air and Other Stories (1988)
The Tin Can Band and Other Poems (poems) (1989)
Chocolate Porridge and Other Stories (1989)
Bubble Trouble (1991)
A Tall Story and Other Tales (1991)
The Girl with the Green Ear: Stories About Magic in Nature (1992)
Tick Tock Tales: Stories to Read Around the Clock (1993)
A Lion in the Meadow and Other Favourite Stories (1993)
Wonderful Me!: Stories And Poems (2002)
Wait for Me! (2003)
Shock Forest: And Other Stories (2004)
Don't Read This! (2004)
Watch Me! (2004)
Picture Books
Mrs. Discombobulous (1969)
Pillycock's Shop (1969)
Procession (1969)
A Lion in the Meadow (1969)
A Dragon of an Ordinary Family (1969)
The Little Witch (1970)
Sailor Jack and the Twenty Orphans (1970)
The Princess and the Clown (1971)
17 Kings and 42 Elephants (1972)
The Boy With Two Shadows (1972)
Railway Engine and the Hairy Brigands (1973)
Rooms to Let (1974)
Stepmother (1974)
The Witch in the Cherry Tree (1974)
Rare Spotted Birthday Party (1974)
Clancy's Cabin (1974)
Rooms for Rent (1974)
Ultra-violet catastrophe!: Or, The unexpected walk with Great-Uncle Magnus Pringle (1975)
The Boy Who Was Followed Home (1975)
Great Millionaire Kidnap (1975)
The Wind Between the Stars (1976)
David's Witch Doctor (1976)
The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate (1976)
Mrs. Bubble's Baby (1983)
Shopping with a Crocodile (1983)
The Great Grumbler and the Wonder Tree (1984)
Ups and Downs (1984)
Jam (1985)
A Crocodile in the Library (1985)
The Adventures of a Kite (1986)
The Cake (1986)
The Catten (1986)
Clever Hamburger (1986)
The Earthquake (1986)
How Mr. Rooster Didn't Get Married (1986)
Kangaroo from Woolloomoolloo (1986)
Lavender the Library Cat (1986)
Let's Get a Pet (1986)
Little Brown House (1986)
Magician's Lunch (1986)
Morning Dance (1986)
Most Scary Ghost (1986)
Mouse Monster (1986)
Plants of My Aunt (1986)
Sophie's Singing Mother (1986)
Ten Loopy Caterpillars (1986)
Terrible Armadillo (1986)
Train That Ran Away (1986)
A Very Happy Bathday (1986)
The Yuckadoos (1986)
The Man Who Enjoyed Grumbling (1986)
The Pop Group (1986)
My Wonderful Aunt (1986)
Moppy's Ball (1986)
Elephant in the House (1987)
The Girl Who Washed in Moonlight (1987)
Tai Taylor and His Education (1987)
Baby's Breakfast (1987)
Feeling Funny (1987)
The Funny, Funny Clown Face (1987)
The Garden Party (1987)
Mr. Rumfitt (1987)
Muppy's Ball (1987)
The New House Villain (1987)
A Pet to the Vet (1987)
Tai Taylor Is Born (1987)
The Terrible Topsy-Turvy, Tissy-Tossy Tangle (1987)
The Tree Doctor (1987)
Trouble On the Bus (1987)
Arguments (1987)
Beautiful Pig (1987)
The Fight On the Hill (1987)
Jacko, the Junk Shop Man (1987)
Long Grass of Tumbledown Road (1987)
Mouse Wedding (1987)
Robber Pig and the Ginger Beer (1987)
Robber Pig and the Green Eggs (1987)
Squeak in the Gate (1987)
Tinny Tiny Tinker (1987)
The Haunting of Miss Cardamom (1987)
The King's Jokes (1987)
Tai Taylor and the Sweet Annie (1987)
Tai Taylor Goes to School (1987)
Guinea Pig Grass (1988)
The Spider in the Shower (1988)
When the King Rides by (1988)
The Father Who Walked On His Hands (1989)
The Great White Man-eating Shark (1989)
No Dinner for Sally (1989)
Crocodile Crocodile (1990)
Iris La Bonga and the Boomerzoomer (1990)
Leap Year (1990)
The Little Round Husband (1990)
Making Friends (1990)
White Elephants (1990)
Iris LA Bonga and the Locked Door (1990)
The Pumpkin Man and the Crafty Creeper (1990)
The Solar System (1990)
Keeping House (1991)
The Queen's Goat (1991)
The Dragon's Birthday (1992)
The Fiddle and the Gun (1992)
The Horrendous Hullabaloo (1992)
A Busy Day for a Good Grandmother (1993)
The Mad Puppet (1993)
The Dentist's Promise (1993)
Iris La Bonga and the Helpful Taxi Driver (1993)
The Rattlebang Picnic (1994)
The Christmas Tree Tangle (1994)
The Greatest Binnie in the World (1996)
Solar Systems: Fact or Fiction (1996)
Boom Baby, Boom Boom! (1996)
Cobwebs, Elephants and Stars (1996)
A Good Knee for a Cat (1997)
Beaten by a Balloon (1997)
The Three Magicians (1997)
A Summery Saturday Morning (1998)
Simply Delicious! (1999)
Down the Dragon's Tongue (2000)
Dashing Dog! (2002)
The Three-legged Cat (2004)
Down the Back of the Chair (2006)
Pillycock's Shop (1969)
Procession (1969)
A Lion in the Meadow (1969)
A Dragon of an Ordinary Family (1969)
The Little Witch (1970)
Sailor Jack and the Twenty Orphans (1970)
The Princess and the Clown (1971)
17 Kings and 42 Elephants (1972)
The Boy With Two Shadows (1972)
Railway Engine and the Hairy Brigands (1973)
Rooms to Let (1974)
Stepmother (1974)
The Witch in the Cherry Tree (1974)
Rare Spotted Birthday Party (1974)
Clancy's Cabin (1974)
Rooms for Rent (1974)
Ultra-violet catastrophe!: Or, The unexpected walk with Great-Uncle Magnus Pringle (1975)
The Boy Who Was Followed Home (1975)
Great Millionaire Kidnap (1975)
The Wind Between the Stars (1976)
David's Witch Doctor (1976)
The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate (1976)
Mrs. Bubble's Baby (1983)
Shopping with a Crocodile (1983)
The Great Grumbler and the Wonder Tree (1984)
Ups and Downs (1984)
Jam (1985)
A Crocodile in the Library (1985)
The Adventures of a Kite (1986)
The Cake (1986)
The Catten (1986)
Clever Hamburger (1986)
The Earthquake (1986)
How Mr. Rooster Didn't Get Married (1986)
Kangaroo from Woolloomoolloo (1986)
Lavender the Library Cat (1986)
Let's Get a Pet (1986)
Little Brown House (1986)
Magician's Lunch (1986)
Morning Dance (1986)
Most Scary Ghost (1986)
Mouse Monster (1986)
Plants of My Aunt (1986)
Sophie's Singing Mother (1986)
Ten Loopy Caterpillars (1986)
Terrible Armadillo (1986)
Train That Ran Away (1986)
A Very Happy Bathday (1986)
The Yuckadoos (1986)
The Man Who Enjoyed Grumbling (1986)
The Pop Group (1986)
My Wonderful Aunt (1986)
Moppy's Ball (1986)
Elephant in the House (1987)
The Girl Who Washed in Moonlight (1987)
Tai Taylor and His Education (1987)
Baby's Breakfast (1987)
Feeling Funny (1987)
The Funny, Funny Clown Face (1987)
The Garden Party (1987)
Mr. Rumfitt (1987)
Muppy's Ball (1987)
The New House Villain (1987)
A Pet to the Vet (1987)
Tai Taylor Is Born (1987)
The Terrible Topsy-Turvy, Tissy-Tossy Tangle (1987)
The Tree Doctor (1987)
Trouble On the Bus (1987)
Arguments (1987)
Beautiful Pig (1987)
The Fight On the Hill (1987)
Jacko, the Junk Shop Man (1987)
Long Grass of Tumbledown Road (1987)
Mouse Wedding (1987)
Robber Pig and the Ginger Beer (1987)
Robber Pig and the Green Eggs (1987)
Squeak in the Gate (1987)
Tinny Tiny Tinker (1987)
The Haunting of Miss Cardamom (1987)
The King's Jokes (1987)
Tai Taylor and the Sweet Annie (1987)
Tai Taylor Goes to School (1987)
Guinea Pig Grass (1988)
The Spider in the Shower (1988)
When the King Rides by (1988)
The Father Who Walked On His Hands (1989)
The Great White Man-eating Shark (1989)
No Dinner for Sally (1989)
Crocodile Crocodile (1990)
Iris La Bonga and the Boomerzoomer (1990)
Leap Year (1990)
The Little Round Husband (1990)
Making Friends (1990)
White Elephants (1990)
Iris LA Bonga and the Locked Door (1990)
The Pumpkin Man and the Crafty Creeper (1990)
The Solar System (1990)
Keeping House (1991)
The Queen's Goat (1991)
The Dragon's Birthday (1992)
The Fiddle and the Gun (1992)
The Horrendous Hullabaloo (1992)
A Busy Day for a Good Grandmother (1993)
The Mad Puppet (1993)
The Dentist's Promise (1993)
Iris La Bonga and the Helpful Taxi Driver (1993)
The Rattlebang Picnic (1994)
The Christmas Tree Tangle (1994)
The Greatest Binnie in the World (1996)
Solar Systems: Fact or Fiction (1996)
Boom Baby, Boom Boom! (1996)
Cobwebs, Elephants and Stars (1996)
A Good Knee for a Cat (1997)
Beaten by a Balloon (1997)
The Three Magicians (1997)
A Summery Saturday Morning (1998)
Simply Delicious! (1999)
Down the Dragon's Tongue (2000)
Dashing Dog! (2002)
The Three-legged Cat (2004)
Down the Back of the Chair (2006)
Non fiction
Anthologies containing stories by Margaret Mahy
Short stories
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