B.M. asked B.M. Allsopp:

What book or books made the biggest impression on you in childhood?

B.M. Allsopp The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, written and illustrated by May Gibbs and continuously in print since 1940. The book introduces children to the Australian bush through the exciting but scary adventures of two gumnut babies (eucalyptus tree fruit), who survive predatory birds, snakes, fire and flood. Even flora can be menacing: the old flower spikes of the banksia tree, their woody seed follicles protruding from grey shaggy coats like staring eyes and gaping mouths, are ‘big, bad, banksia men’, in league with wicked Mrs Snake to capture and kill Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. To this day, everyone in my family coming across mature banksia spikes, gleefully recites ‘the big, bad banksia men, hatching a wicked plot’, which is a caption from one of May Gibb’s wonderful illustrations.
When I was a few years older, Johanna Spyri’s Heidi books won my heart and immersed me in a totally different environment from my familiar Australian bush. How delightful were the high pasture in the Swiss Alps, the snow, the warm breath of the friendly cows, the innocent meadow flowers and toasted cheese! The scenes where Heidi learns to read, and in turn teaches her friend Peter, fascinated me.
Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five filled me with envy. Were all English children allowed to cycle off to camp on their own, live on pineapple chunks and chocolate, and bring adult wrongdoers to justice?

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