Margaret Mahy
Margaret Mahy was a celebrated New Zealand author and librarian, born in the 1930s. With a background in education—her mother being a teacher and her own studies culminating in a bachelor's degree—Mahy embarked on a career that intertwined her passions for literature and child development. She began her writing journey in 1969 with her first children's book, *A Lion in the Meadow*, and went on to publish over fifty works, often infusing her stories with elements of fantasy while addressing children’s relationships and concerns. Notable titles include *The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate*, *The Haunting*, and *Aliens in the Family*. Mahy's contributions to children's literature earned her numerous accolades, including six Esther Glenn Medals, the Carnegie Medal, and the Phoenix Award. In recognition of her literary impact, she was appointed a member of the Order of New Zealand. Her legacy continues to resonate, marking her as a national treasure in New Zealand's literary landscape.
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Subject Terms
Margaret Mahy
Fiction, Nonfiction and Children's Literature Writer
- Born: March 21, 1936
- Birthplace: Whakatane, New Zealand
- Died: July 23, 2012
Biography
Margaret Mahy was born in the 1930’s in New Zealand. Her father was a builder and her mother a teacher. Mahy attended Auckland University College and Canterbury University College, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1955. She then studied library science at the New Zealand Library School.
After her graduation, Mahy became a librarian, working in various libraries as a children’s librarian while simultaneously embarking on a career as a writer. In 1984, she served as the writer-in-residence for Canterbury University. The following year she was the writer-in-residence at the Western Australian College of Advanced Education.
Mahy’s first children’s book was 1969’s A Lion in the Meadow. The author of more than fifty children’s books, Mahy often wrote stories containing elements of fantasy while focusing on children’s relationships and concerns. Popular titles of hers include The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate, The Haunting, and Aliens in the Family.
Considered a national treasure, Mahy has been the recipient of a great number of awards, including six Esther Glenn Medals from the New Zealand Library Association, the Best Books for Young Adults award from the American Library Association, the Boston Globe/Horn Book award, the New Zealand Post Honour Award, the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Award, the Carnegie Medal from the British Library Association, and the Phoenix Award from the Canadian Children’s Literature Association. Mahy was also made a member of the Order of New Zealand for her contributions to children’s literature.