Australia's most famous babies are set to stop by Shoalhaven in a travelling display.
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More than 100 years after May Gibbs' characters Snugglepot and Cuddlepie found their way into the homes of Australians, Nowra is hosting the travelling display of the famous author's artwork.
May Gibbs was Australia's first full-time, professionally trained children's book author and illustrator, and the display features reproductions of some of her most beloved characters.
Shoalhaven Libraries are celebrating the special event by hosting a special gumnut story time, with children invited to stop by the library a take-home craft project of gumnut hat during the exhibition period.
The gumnut babies became an instant hit when they first appeared on December 5, 1916 in a booklet published by Angus & Robertson, and the gum-blossom babies soon followed.
According to State Library of NSW Senior Curator Alison Wishart, generations of Australians have fond memories of growing up with the gumnut babies and their friends.
“May Gibbs was a keen environmentalist and was also fiercely patriotic”, Ms Wishart said.
“Not many people know that during the First World War she designed a series of postcards and bookmarks featuring her popular characters to send to the soldiers overseas.”
The display explores May Gibbs’ early work, the characters of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, Ragged Blossom and Little Obelia, her process and examples of how the war influenced her work.
The exhibition will be held until February 21. For more information visit the Shoalhaven Libraries website.