Margaret Wild Margaret Wild i(A29397 works by)
Born: Established: 1948
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South Africa,
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Southern Africa, Africa,
;
Gender: Female
Arrived in Australia: ca. 1972
Heritage: South African
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BiographyHistory

Margaret Wild was born in Eshowe, a country town in South Africa. Her father was a bank manager and Wild's early life was spent frequently moving around; however, she spent a lot of time in Johannesburg and attended local state schools there.

After leaving school, she worked as a journalist on country and city newspapers, including the West Rand Times and the Johannesburg Star. In the early 1970s, she came to Australia and worked as a feature writer on several magazines including Dolly. She then completed her formal education at the Australian National University in Canberra. After returning to Sydney in 1980, she combined child rearing with freelance writing, including Cleo magazine.

From 1984 to 2000, Margaret worked as a publisher of children's books, most recently at ABC Books. Margaret is well known for beautifully crafted and moving picture book texts, with two of these winning the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award The Very Best of Friends (1989) and Jenny Angel (1999). Several others have been Short Listed for these awards. Her books have also featured as American Library Association Notable Books.

Frequent themes include family relationships and such traumas as facing fears, experiencing death and memory loss, and suffering loss. Let the Celebrations Begin (1991), an uplifting story of children in a concentration camp, demonstrates the ability of this author to treat controversial topics with great sensitivity. Many of Australia's most outstanding picture book illustrators, including Julie Vivas, Jane Tanner, Kerry Argent, Gregory Rogers, and Ann James enhance the work of this author. Many of her works have been published overseas.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Duckling Runs Away Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2023 25526772 2023 single work picture book children's

'A warm, comforting story about a cross little duckling and her mother's unconditional love, from the award-winning and bestselling team behind The Sloth Who Came To Stay.

'Duckling is running away and she's never, ever coming back! Or is she?Luckily, no matter how far Duckling roams, a mother's love is always near.

'A reassuring story about love and trust from bestselling author Margaret Wild, with sweetly charming illustrations by Vivienne To.' (Publication summary) 

2024 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Early Childhood
y separately published work icon The Amazing Meals of Martha Maloney Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2021 22444493 2021 single work picture book children's

'A tasty treat of a book where a precocious and imaginative child dines with important historical figures.

'On a school trip to the Museum of Famous People, Martha Maloney wanders off and enjoys the culinary delights of important figures through time, much to the dismay of her teacher. Readers can experience history through the dining tables of King Henry VIII, Princess Marie Antoinette, Queen Nefertiti and more, with heaped servings of information about each time period and their culinary customs. This unique picture book weaves together fiction and non-fiction to create a delicious read for inquisitive young minds.' (Publication summary)

2022 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Eve Pownall Award
y separately published work icon Girl from the Sea Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2020 18880579 2020 single work picture book children's

'A poetic ghost story with stunning images from two of Australia's finest children's book creators

'Who lives in that cottage by the sea?
I wish. I wish. I wish it was me.

'A lyrical masterpiece by Margaret Wild and Jane Tanner.' (Publication summary) 

2021 shortlisted English Association and the UK Literary Association Fiction 7-11
2021 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Picture Books
Last amended 15 Apr 2021 09:53:05
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