Monday, June 8, 2009

From William to Bill.....That is...........

.....Blinky Bill
My drawings in Tracy's Moly.
Blinky Bill is an anthropomorphic koala and children's fictional character created by New Zealand-born Australian author Dorothy Wall. The character of Blinky first appeared in Brooke Nicholls' 1933 book, Jacko - the Broadcasting Kookaburra which was illustrated by Wall. Wall then featured Blinky Bill in a series of her own books, including Blinky Bill: The Quaint Little Australian, Blinky Bill Grows Up, and Blinky Bill and Nutsy. The books are considered quintessential Australian children's classics, and have never been out of print in Australia.

While telling the adventures of Blinky Bill, a naughty little boy in the form of a koala, the stories also present messages of conservation. Blinky Bill is known for his mischievousness and his love for his mother. His friends include his adopted sister Nutsy, his kangaroo friend Splodge, his platypus friend Flap, Marcia his marsupial friend, and his mentor Mr Wombat or Wombo, as Blinky prefers to call him. In general throughout the stories he does things that are realistic for koalas as well as things that child readers would like to do. Wall tells the stories directly to the children and Blinky often interacts with the readers in an introduction. Her dedications are often to 'All the Kind Children', with her own son Peter and other common Australian names of the 1930s appearing. The books are also fully illustrated by Dorothy Wall herself.Click on images to enlarge.

8 comments:

Jan Allsopp said...

Perfect Clare! Great follow on too!

melissa said...

I really can't wait to see the texture of that tree up close and personal. Great tangent.

Clare said...

It really could have been better Melissa. I was a bit too light handed....sore hands....$#*!

melissa said...

I think the texture in person is just as good, Clare. The good news is the moly survived our move this past week...the bad news is I haven't done a darn thing with it. Will get to it ASAP.

Clare said...

Oh I wouldn't stress too much... everyone seems to have slowed down again. I am sure you will get it done in good time, :) I have not heard much from anyone. Regards, Clare.

Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...

Blinky Bill - what a favourite that was! We find such books when sorting second-hand books to send overseas. How naive and different life was for children once upon a time in Australia. Now it's all this obsession with Michael Jackson's death!
w.

Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alison said...

This looks wonderful Clare - sorry I didn't comment earlier. You posted it the day my mother broke her hip and I have taken ages to catch up with life.