Mem Fox

Mem Fox, AM (born Merrion Frances Partridge on 5 March 1946) is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox is semi-retired and lives in Adelaide.^[1]

Career

In 1981, while working in drama, Fox decided to retrain in literacy studies. She said: "Literacy has become the great focus of my life — it’s my passion, my battle and my mission and my exhaustion."^[1] She has published books on literacy aimed at children, their parents, teachers and educators. She held the position of Associate Professor, Literacy Studies, in the School of Education at Flinders University until her retirement in 1996.^[1] Since her retirement from teaching, Fox travels around the world visiting many countries and doing presentations and speaking on children's books and literacy issues.^[1]

Possum Magic

Fox wrote her first draft for the internationally acclaimed Possum Magic in 1978 during a course in children’s literature at Flinders University. Nine publishers rejected the draft over a five year period. When it was accepted by Omnibus Books in Adelaide they asked Fox to reduce the 4½ page book, then entitled Hush the Invisible Mouse, by two thirds and to change the mice to Australian animals to place emphasis on her Australian theme. Possum Magic is now one of the most recognised picture books in Australia and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

The two main characters in Possum Magic are Grandma Poss and Hush. Hush has been made invisible by her Grandma to protect her from the dangers of the Australian bush. The story details the duo's adventures as they tour Australia searching for the secret to Hush's visibility. It is a rhythmical story of Australia's varied landscapes and the animals that live in them.

Guess What?

The book, Guess What? appears as number sixty-sixth on the American list of the 100 most challenged books 1990 to 2000.^[2] Groups and agencies can challenge a book to prevent it from being available to be read by the general public.

Personal life

Fox was born Merrion Frances Partridge in Melbourne, Australia but grew up in Southern Rhodesia.^[1] Her parents were missionaries and she attended Hope Fountain mission school, near Bulawayo. When she was eighteen, she went to England where she was accepted into an English Drama school.^[1]

In 1969, she married Malcolm Fox, a teacher.^[1] The following year they returned to Australia and in 1971 she gave birth to her only child Chloe Fox,^[3] who is now an ALP member of the South Australian Parliament.

She dislikes her given name, and adopted the shortened form "Mem" at around the age of 13. She has never taken the step of legally changing her name, so remains "Merrion" for official purposes.^[4]

Opinion on childcare

Fox attracted controversy in 2008 after claiming entrusting very young children to childcare is child abuse.^[5]

Awards and recognition

• 1984 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for young people's literature for Possum Magic
• 1990 Dromkeen Medal^[6]
• 1993 Member of the Order of Australia for "services to children's literature"^[7]
• 1994 Winner of the COOL Award Winners for Possum Magic
• 2001 Centenary Medal ^[8]
• Honorary doctorates from Wollongong and Flinders Universities, Australia.^{[citation needed]}
• In 2004 a portrait of Fox, titled The Storyteller by the artist Henny Van den Wildenberg, was a finalist in the Archibald Prize.

Works

Children's books

• Possum Magic (1983) illustrated by Julie Vivas
• Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (1984) illustrated by Julie Vivas
• A Cat called Kite (1985) illustrated by K. Hawley
• Zoo-Looking (1986) illustrated by Rodney McRae
• Arabella, the Smallest Girl in the World (1986) illustrated by Vicky Kitanov
• Hattie and the Fox (1986) illustrated by Patricia Mullins
• Just Like That (1986) with Kilmeny Niland
• Sail Away: The Ballad of Skip and Nell (1986) illustrated by Pamela Lofts
• The Straight Line Wonder (1987) illustrated by Meredith Thomas
• A Bedtime Story (1987) illustrated by Sisca Verwoert
• Goodnight Sleep Tight (1988) illustrated by Helen Semmler
• Guess What? (1988) with Vivienne Goodman
• Koala Lou (1988) illustrated by Pamela Lofts
• With Love at Christmas (1988) illustrated by Fay Plamka
• Night Noises (1989) illustrated by Terry Denton
• Feathers and Fools (1989) illustrated by Lorraine Ellis
• Shoes from Grandpa (1989) illustrated by Patricia Mullins
• Sophie (1989) illustrated by Craig Smith
• Time for Bed (1993) illustrated by Jane Dyer
• Tough Boris (1994) illustrated by Kathryn Brown
• Wombat Divine (1995) illustrated by Kerry Argent
• Boo to a Goose (1996) illustrated by David Miller
• Whoever You Are (1998) illustrated by Leslie Staub
• Sleepy Bears (1999) illustrated by Kerry Argent
• Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild! (2000) illustrated by Marla Frazee
• The Magic Hat (2002) illustrated by Tricia Tusa
• Where Is The Green Sheep? (2004) illustrated by Judy Horacek
• Hunwick’s Egg (2005) illustrated by Pamela Lofts
• A Particular Cow (2006) illustrated by Terry Denton
• Where the Giant Sleeps (2007) pictures by Vladimir Radunsky
• "Ten Little Fingers & Ten Little Toes" illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Sept. 2008)
• "Hello, Baby" illustrated by Steve Jenkins (March 2009) (USA 5 May 2009)
• "A Giraffe in the Bath" with Olivia Rawson, illustrated by Kerry Argent (March 2010)
• "Let's Count Goats" illustrated by Jan Thomas, (October 2010)
• "The Little Dragon" (April 2011)
• "Two Little Monkeys" illustrated by Jill Barton, (May 2012)

Non-fiction

• Thereby Hangs a Tale (1980)
• How to Teach Drama to Infants Without Really Crying (Australian title) (1984) (Teaching Drama to Young Children (USA title) (1987))
• Mem’s the Word (1990 - Australian title) (Dear Mem Fox (1992 - USA title)
• English essentials : the wouldn’t-be-without-it guide to writing well (1993) with Lyn Wilkinson
• Memories : an autobiography (1992)
• Radical reflections : passionate opinions on teaching, learning, and living (1993)
• Reading Magic (2001)
• English essentials : the wouldn’t-be-without-it guide to writing well (revised 2009) with Lyn Wilkinson

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Life Story". Mem Fox website. http://www.memfox.net/life-story.html. Retrieved 7 March 2008. 
2. ^ "The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 18 February 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080218042006/http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm. Retrieved 7 March 2008. 
3. ^ Sharron L. McElmeel (1992). Bookpeople: A Multicultural Album. Teacher Ideas Press. p. 55. ISBN 0872879534. http://books.google.ca/books?id=sep4AZipn6UC&pg=PA55. 
4. ^ "The power of names". Interview by Maria Zijlstra. Lingua Franca. Radio National. 2009-08-22.
5. ^ "Childcare for babies is 'abuse', says author Mem Fox". Sunday Mail (Queensland). 31 August 2008. http://www.news.com.au/national/childcare-for-babies-is-abuse-says-author/story-e6frfkw9-1111117348846#ixzz1OXSF5UDu. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
6. ^ "Dromkeen Medal". Scholastic. http://www.scholastic.com.au/common/dromkeen/medal.asp. Retrieved 15 July 2007. 
7. ^ "Its and Honour - 26 January 1993". Australian Government. http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=869967&search_type=quick&showInd=true. Retrieved 7 March 2008. 
8. ^ "It's an Honour - 1 January 2001". Australian Government. http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1121511&search_type=quick&showInd=true. Retrieved 7 March 2008. 

External links

• Mem Fox (Her personal web site)
• Mem Fox, Australian Author of Children's Books (Biography)
• Children's and Youth Library (Library pages on Mem Fox)
• Interview (with Audio) of Mem Fox about her name

Persondata
Name	Fox, Mem
Alternative names
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Date of birth	5 March 1946
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death