{{Short description|Australian children's writer}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer | name = Margaret Wild | birth_name = | birth_date = 1948 | birth_place = [[Eshowe]], [[South Africa]] | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Writer for children | language = English | nationality = Australian | ethnicity = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | notableworks = ''Fox'', ''The Very Best of Friends'' | awards = 2008 [[Nan Chauncy Award]] | years_active = 1983- }}
'''Margaret Wild''' (born 1948) is an Australian [[children's writer]].<ref name=austlit>{{cite web|title= Austlit — Margaret Wild |publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A29397|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref>
She has written more than 40 books for children. Her work has been published around the world and has won several awards. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the [[Children's Book Council of Australia]] in 2022.
==Life== Wild was born in [[Eshowe]], South Africa,<ref name=austlit/> an early European settlement. Her bank manager's family moved frequently and she attended state schools in [[Johannesburg]].<ref name=austlit/> She came to Australia in 1972, worked as a magazine feature writer, and finished her education at [[Australian National University]] in Canberra.<ref name=austlit/> In Sydney she raised a family, worked as a freelance writer, worked sixteen years as a book editor in children's publishing—1984 to 2000, finally at ABC Books, [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].<ref name=austlit/>
==Writer== Wild's books explore a diverse range of themes but she is particularly noted for exploring issues of identity, trust, and death. ''Let the Celebrations Begin'' (1991) focused on the imminent release of Jewish prisoners from a [[Nazi concentration camp]],<ref name=austlit /> while in ''The Very Best of Friends'' (1989) the death of a farmer prompts his widowed wife to find the love to care for their respective pets, a cat and dog, equally. ''Fox'' (2000), illustrated by Ron Brooks using the colours of the Australian landscape, is a powerful story about trust and betrayal.
In March 2020 Wild was awarded an award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature by the Australia Council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/03/10/147238/wild-honoured-for-lifetime-achievement-in-literature/|title=Wild honoured for Lifetime Achievement in Literature|last=|first=|date=10 March 2020|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-11}}</ref> In December 2020 she was nominated as Australia's author candidate for the 2022 [[Hans Christian Andersen Award]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-12-10|title=Wild, Riddle nominated for 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Awards|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/12/10/160778/wild-riddle-nominated-for-2022-hans-christian-andersen-awards/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-12|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}}</ref>
She now lives in Sydney.
==Works== === Picture books=== * ''Chalk Boy'', illustrated by Mandy Ord (2018) * ''The Sloth that came to Stay'', illustrated by Vivienne To (2017) * ''Bogtrotter'', illustrated by [[Judith Rossell]] (2015) * ''The Bush book Club'', illustrated by Ben Wood (2014) * ''The Treasure Box'', ill. [[Freya Blackwood]] (2013) * ''Tanglewood, ''ill. Vivienne Goodman (2012) * ''Vampyre'', ill. Andrew Yeo (2011) * ''Puffling'', ill. Julie Vivas (2009) * ''Harry & Hopper'', ill. Freya Blackwood (2009) * ''The Pocket dogs go on holiday'', ill. Stephen Michael King (2008) * ''Piglet and Papa'', ill. Stephen Michael King (2007) * ''Woolvs in the Sitee'', ill Anne Spudvilas (2006) * ''Chatterbox'', ill. [[Deborah Niland]] (2006) * ''The Bilbies of Bliss'', ill. [[Noela Young]] (2005) * ''The Little Crooked House'', co-written with illustrator Jonathan Bentley (2005) * ''Hop, Little Hare!'', ill. Peter Shaw (2005) * ''Piglet and Mama'', ill. Stephen Michael King (2005) * ''Farmer Fred's Cow'', ill. David Waller (2004) * ''Seven More Sleeps'', ill. Donna Rawlins (2004) * ''Kiss, Kiss!'', ill. Bridget Strevens-Marzo (2003) * ''Little Humpty'', ill. [[Ann James]] (2003) * ''Baby Boomsticks'', ill. David Legge (2003) * ''Mr Moo'', ill. Jonathon Bentley (2002) * ''Jenny Angel'', ill. Anne Spudvilas (2002) * ''The House of Narcissus'', ill. Wayne Harris (2001) * ''The Pocket Dogs'', ill. Stephen Michael King (2001) * ''The Midnight Feast'', ill. Ann James (2001) * ''Midnight Babies'', ill. Ann James (2001) * ''Nighty Night!'', ill. [[Kerry Argent]] (2001) * ''Fox'', ill. Ron Brooks (2000) * ''Tom Goes to Kindergarten'', ill. David Legge (2000) * ''Miss Lily's Fabulous Pink Feather Boa'', ill. Kerry Argent (1999) * ''Old Pig'', co-written with illustrator Ron Brooks (1999) * ''Our Granny'', ill. Julie Vivas (1998) * ''Rosie and Tortoise'', ill. Ron Brooks (1998) * ''First Day'', ill. by Kim Gamble (1998) * ''Bim Bam Boom!'', ill. Wayne Harris (1998) * ''Big Cat Dreaming'', ill. Anne Spudvilas (1997) * ''The Midnight Gang'', ill. Ann James (1997) * ''Remember Me'', ill. Dee Huxley (1995) * ''Beast'', (1995) * ''Mr. Nick's Knitting'', ill. Dee Huxley (1994) * ''Going Home'', ill. Wayne Harris (1994) * ''Toby'', ill. Noela Young (1994) * ''The Slumber Party'', ill. David Cox (1993) * ''But Granny Did'', ill. Ian Forss (1993) * ''Space Travellers'', ill. [[Gregory Rogers]] (1993) * ''All the Better to See You With!'', ill. Pat Reynolds (1993) * ''Thank You, Santa'', ill. Kerry Argent (1992) * ''My Dearest Dinosaur'', ill. Donna Rawlins (1992) * ''Let the Celebrations Begin!'', ill. Julie Vivas (1991) * ''The Very Best of Friends'', ill. Julie Vivas (1990) * ''Kathy's Umbrella'', ill. Hannah Koch (1987) * ''There's a Sea in My Bedroom'', ill. [[Jane Tanner]] (1984) * ''Something Absolutely Enormous'', ill. Jack Hannah (1984)
===Novels=== * ''Diary of Megan Moon'' (1988)<ref>{{cite web|title= ''Diary of Megan Moon'' by Margaret Wild|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/357226|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref> * ''Beast'' (1992)<ref>{{cite web|title= ''Beast'' by Margaret Wild|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/288062|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref> * ''Jinx'' (2001)<ref>{{cite web|title= 'Jinx' by Margaret Wild|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2637764|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref> * ''One Night'' (2003)<ref>{{cite web|title= ''One Night'' by Margaret Wild|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/941939|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref> * ''The Vanishing Moment'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web|title= ''The Vanishing Moment'' by Margaret Wild|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6220949|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref>
==Awards==
=== Personal === * Won – [[Nan Chauncy Award]] (2008)<ref>{{cite web|title="CBCA Nan Chauncy Award" |publisher= CBCA|url=https://cbca.org.au/NanChauncyAward|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref> * Won – Lifetime Achievement Award, Children's Book Council of Australia (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Margaret Wild |url=https://cbca.org.au/LAA_Recipients#2022 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The Children's Book Council of Australia}}</ref>
=== For books === ;''There's a Sea in My Bedroom''
* Shortlisted – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book]] (1985) * Shortlisted – Kate Greenaway Award (UK) (1985)
;''The Very Best of Friends'' * Won – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book]] (1990)<ref name=austlit/>
;''The Midnight Gang'' * Won – [[BILBY Award#Early Readers Award|Books I Love Best Yearly: Early Readers Award]] (1998)<ref name=austlit/>
;''Miss Lily's Fabulous Pink Feather Boa'' * Shortlisted – Young Australian Best Book Award: Picture Book (1999)
;''Jenny Angel'' * Shortlisted – Family Award for Children's Books: Picture Book (1999) * Shortlisted – Australian Publishers Association: Design (1999) * Shortlisted – New South Wales State Literary Award: Young Reader (2000) * Won – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book]] (2000)<ref name=austlit/> * Shortlisted – Young Australian Best Book Award: Picture Book (2001)
;''The Pocket Dogs'' * Shortlisted – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Early Childhood]] (2001) * Shortlisted – Young Australian Best Book Award: Picture Book (2003) * Shortlisted – [[BILBY Award#Early Readers Award#Books I Love Best Yearly: Early Readers Award]] (2003)
;''Fox'' * Won – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book]] (2001)<ref name=austlit/> * Won – [[Queensland Premier's Literary Awards]]: Children's Book Award (2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://premiers.qld.gov.au/awardsevents/awards/Queensland_Premiers_Literary_awards/Past_Winners |title="Past Winners (Previous Literary Award winners)" |accessdate=2014-07-19 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013193342/http://premiers.qld.gov.au/awardsevents/awards/Queensland_Premiers_Literary_awards/Past_Winners |archivedate=13 October 2007 }}. Queensland Premier's Literary Awards. 26 June 2007. Archived 31 October 2007. Retrieved 2014-07-19.</ref> * Won – [[Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis]] (2004)<ref>{{cite web|title="Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis" |publisher= Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis|url=https://www.jugendliteratur.org/buch/fuchs-818|access-date= 24 April 2024}}</ref>
;''Baby Boomsticks'' * Won – [[BILBY Award#Early Readers Award|Books I Love Best Yearly: Early Readers Award]] (2006)<ref name=austlit/>
;''Woolvs in the Sitee'' * Won – [[Aurealis Award for best children's fiction (told primarily through pictures)|Aurealis Award for Best Children's Fiction]] (2006) * Shortlisted – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book]] (2007) * Shortlisted – ABPA Book Design Awards: Picture Book (2007)
;''Chatterbox'' * Shortlisted – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Early Childhood]] (2007)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Children's literature |Australia}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100416060820/http://www.littleharebooks.com/schoolresources/author.php?id=4 Margaret Wild] at publisher Allen & Unwin * [https://www.penguin.com.au/contributors/1927/margaret-wild Margaret Wild] at publisher Penguin Books Australia * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416060820/http://www.littleharebooks.com/schoolresources/author.php?id=4 |date=16 April 2010 |title=Margaret Wild at publisher Little Hare Books }}; [http://hardiegrant.com.au/egmont/search-results?cat=Author&str=wild%2c+margaret&page=1 search parent Hardie Grant] * [http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Authors_and_Illustrators/Margaret-Wild Margaret Wild] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318191547/https://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Authors_and_Illustrators/Margaret-Wild |date=18 March 2022 }} at publisher Walker Books Australia * [http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an000036538135 Wild] at Libraries Australia Authorities, with catalogue search {{subscription required}} : <small>July 2014: The primary Note is copied from this page, August 2007 to June 2014.</small> * {{LCAuth|n86029147| Wild|51|ue}} (1984–present)
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wild, Margaret}} [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Australian children's writers]] [[Category:Writers from Sydney]] [[Category:South African emigrants to Australia]] [[Category:20th-century South African women writers]] [[Category:Australian women children's writers]]