Welcome to my Guestbook
I love reading this guest book every night! Thank you for writing.
You’ll know from my Hot News Space that I don’t have time to reply to the majority of the messages, so huge apologies in advance.
I hope students doing urgent assignments will avoid heart-break and failure by not requesting my help in the first place. I feel badly about not being able to help out, and hope everyone will forgive me.
Needless to say I will reply to invitations so do remember to leave an e-mail address.
I no longer have time to visit schools (unless they are close to my house) because I am now focussing heavily on teachers, parents and reading aloud. I do feel sad about this and hope everyone will understand.
And finally a gentle reminder: everything you write in this guest book can be read by the whole world.
Best regards,
Mem Fox
Dearest Mem,
Hearing you speak at the 4th Biennial Equity Conference in Sydney this year was…oh how do I put this……It was like being in the dark and then suddenly someone turns the light on! Your talks left me bubbling with energy… I could all but run home, grab a book and read to my children using your examples as a guide…the result is AMAZING! my girls love hearing Koala lou! My youngest who is only three says to me every night when I put her to bed ‘Mummy Moo I dooooo Love you!’
I only have to say story time and they run to grab their places on our couch…Even my eleven year old , whom I might add used to never once glance in the direction of our bookshelf, and who I now frequently catch grabbing a book and sneaking off into his room.
Hearing you speak has had the biggest impact to our lives, and on behalf of my children and myself I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts….
from the Robinson Family
Dear Mem Fox,
We love you and we loved Koala Lou.
We also loved Possum Magic because there were lots of details about Australia. We especially liked the lamingtons from Brisbane!!!
In fact we love all your books!!!
Thanks for all the lovely books.
We can’t wait for the next one.
Bye from HB8
My Year One class is learning about Mem Fox and her books.
They are amazed at the work that goes into writing a book with all the checking and redrafting!
They love the stories!
hi mem – looove your green sheep – not only the book but i now have the actual sheep and it is very sweet and cuddly. when i first saw her (she looks like a she i think) i thought i might buy her for the grandchildren (although i usually don’t like buying products that come with books) but then i decided to be nice to myself and buy it just for me – the accompanying book (which i already have of course) will be given to the next baby who gets born in my family or circle of friends). she can go and stay with the grandchildren if they want but she lives with me. thanks for giving me another reason for smiling
marjan
Send a message to the website, Glenda: no problem with that!
Dear mem fox I have read one of your books the book was called The Goblin And The Empty Chair. Why did you write the goblin and the emty chair.
from jasmine (Age8)
Dear Mem Fox,
Hello from Paxton Primary School, K/1/2 class. In library we have been reading your books and learning about you. We really enjoy your stories and hope you write more soon! We would love a story about boy and girl superheroes.
We tried to choose a favourite book but we couldn’t because they are all so excellent!
We would love to meet you in person someday.
love Paxton Primary (K/1/2)
Dear Mem Fox,
I thought that The Goblin and The Empty Chair was very good and I liked that he got seen and now has a family.
Thanks,
From Jesse
Dear Mem Fox,
I would like to know what is the unspeakable thing that the family have?
Harley (Aged 7)
Dear Mem Fox,
I just read your book ,The Goblin and the Empty Chair. I liked it very much because the goblin helped a lot of people when they were sad. I liked how it had the story at the top and the main idea in the pictures. Could you tell me if there was a person in the empty chair before, and how did they vanish?
Thanks,
From Jordan (Aged 7)
Hello,
Wow, I don’t even know where to begin. First off, thank you for writing Koala Lou! It holds a very special memory for my mother and I. She read it to me once when I was younger and from that point on she’s always called me Alaina Lou. People always would ask if that was my middle name and, since it isn’t, why she calls me that. We’d tell them because of a book and the love of the mother for her eldest daughter. Until this year however, I didn’t have a clue which book it was or who wrote it. One of my professors assigned an author study project and it dawned on me that I could probably search the character Koala Lou and figure out what the book was called and who wrote it. Needless to say I did and have since read several of your other children’s books and am currently reading Reading Magic. The other day I bought a copy of Koala Lou and read it to my mom over the phone. We both cried when I was finished. The rediscovery of a beloved book came at a very needed time for my mother. Thank you!
Also, I’m currently a student at the University of North Texas, studying to be a future teacher. I will most definitely be using your books and your strategies in my classroom and am urging everyone I know to read to their kids. (Oh, the professor that assigned the author study project said that she had a chance to meet you when you spoke at Texas Women’s awhile back.)
I did have a question for you. What do you think about the videos and games that are all the rage now that are supposed to be teaching children how to read at incredibly young ages?
I understand that I’ve written a rather long comment and you are an incredibly busy person so if you can’t respond, that’s okay. I think there isn’t anything that can replace the experience of actually reading to children in a way that makes them want to read, need to read.
Dear Mem,
We just returned from hearing you read at Corio Library for Children’s week in Geelong. Me and my four babes all attended and got front row seats ;). I was too chicken to speak to you there (how rude, i know!), but still wanted to send a big thank you. Firstly, thank you for your passion during your time with us. I imagine traveling about must be exhausting, but you showed nothing but enthusiasm in your reading, and really made us all feel so special.
Your books have become a favorite for us all. I’m currently reading, reading magic and gaining so much from it. It was a treat for me to be able to see you do what you advocate in your book. I learned heaps in our short time with you today.
A friend is getting Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge for us for my oldest’s birthday, because we as a family weekly visit the nursing home in our neighborhood. I can’t wait for my oldest’s birthday to have your book in our home on a daily basis. As a side note, visiting the home has blessed our lives in such a deep way that I cannot suggest highly enough to anyone out there who has stuck through this comment, that it is so WORTH doing!
Personally, ten little fingers is my favorite because I love another excuse to count my babes ten little fingers and ten little toes and give them each three little kisses on the tips of their noses.
All in all, thank you. You are enriching our lives through the gift of writing which God has given you.
Dear Mem Fox,
Do you enjoy being an author? I enjoy reading your books beacuse they are amazing and interesting. They sometimes make me laugh. You are a great author.Why did you write The Goblin and The Empty Chair? The best part in the book ws when the goblin had a family.
Thank you,
From,
Jasmine (Age 8)
Dear Mem
I have just returned home from seeing you at the Geelong Football Club. WOW….have I been blown away by you! I was absolutely mezmarized by you reading your books. I am still so overwhelmed by it all, that I’m unable to settle for the evening.
Although I have never read or heard of Reading Magic, I will be at the book store first thing in the morning to purchase it.
I look forward to seeing you at Newcomb Library tomorrow and hope that my daughter gets as much enjoymment listening to you as I did tonight.
Thank you for your contribution, via stories, to my daughters life.
Angela
Dear Mem,
Thank you, thank you. I love reading Magic Hat and I would like to know how you get inspiration to write your books.
From Viktoria
Hi Mem,
I just wanted to let you know that your book, Hello Baby, was the perfect first read for my new twin granddaughters. I read to each of them when they were just a few hours old. Their Mem library is already growing and they are only one month old! I wish I could have attached a picture of me reading to the babies. It is priceless.
I am a first grade teacher and my students learn all about you each year. We adore you!
Thank you for all your work!
Debra O’Brien
I can not believe the amount of quality material that exists on this site. The site is extremely eye catching and pulls the reader straight in, the articles are great quality and are very professionally written. I have seen too many of these sites where it looks like they pay an 8 year old to do the writing – Not this one. Your site is easily the best that I have seen in a long while.
My 9 year old daughter is doing a library project – the topic being a famous Australian of her choice. I can’t tell you how pleased & proud I felt when I heard that of all the possibilities, my child chose an author! It is no surprise to me that she chose you. We spent a couple of years living in the United States & in order for the children (then 2 & 5) to remain familiar with the good old Aussie accent, I purchased a bunch of audio books from home – including Mem Fox Magic. To this day, it still comes out for long car trips. We all love it. Even my husband can tolerate it time and again! I’m so glad to have discovered your reading voice – such enthusiasm that the characters leap out. I enjoyed your reading so much that I was encouraged to read to my children using your methods, and am thrilled to hear their own reading expression at 6 (a boy no less), and 9. Your stories & story telling have had a wonderful impact on our family’s love of books & story telling.
Mem:
I love Reading Magic and like to quote the idea that children need 1000 stories read to them before they can read.
Do you have a simple source on this research? I should probably include it from time to time.
Keep up the great work!
Darling Red haired Mem
I have re aquainted my self with your divine approach to Read Aloud. I was a product of Teachers College circa 1980’s. Process writing approach – how could i not – Alan Luke was my lecturer.
I was excited about teaching until i met the Durassic park Staff rooms waiting for me.
Guess I can now go back as a Durassic survivor – I havent taught for 11 years, now im excited. Why? Your endearing voice onABC radio Brisbane some days ago…. i have devoured your web site.
Merci Mem xx
Dear Mem Fox
What do you usually think about when you’re writing? Where do you get your ideas and inspiration to write from? Who did you get the personalities of Harriet and her Mum from in ‘Harriet you’ll drive me wild’? How many books have you written so far? How long does it take you to get an idea and start to write about it? How many different illustrators have you worked with? Can you please name some of them? Which illustrator did you meet first? What are your top ten favourite books, and your top ten favourite authors? Are you currently writing? If you are what is the name of it? I have the book ‘Time for Bed’ at home. I like to read it to my siblings aged 6 and 8, at bedtime, they love it. Do you like to write novels or read them or both, and do you only like to write picture stories or novels?
Thanks for listening!
From Chantal
Hi mem,
I like the book Time For Bed because it doesn’t go for ever. Ilike it because it has animals. I have 10 fish,2 cats and a puppy. in 19 months how many books have you written?. Do you have any pets if you do what are there names?
from Jordan R
Hi Mem Fox
My name is Jacob
I really like your books. Next year I am going to USA in March. The book Wilfred Gordon Mc Donald Patridge is a really really good book. My favourite person is the man crazy about cricket. The book was really cool!. I`m writing this letter because you`re the author of the month in our 3\4 class room.
From Jacob
Hi Mem
Just wanted to say thanks for your ‘Reading Magic’ passion which I read last week. At age 3 and half my son Ellis has close to 200 books readily available on his bookshelves and he probably knows most of them off by heart. I am sure we most certainly read many more than 3 books a day!!
I wanted to share a story about why I have been a little obsessed about giving him books books books.
Growing up I was given maybe one or two books a year. My love of reading was seen as a little ‘unhealthy’ and I was enrolled in a range of other activities such as guides, tennis lessons, guitar lessons etc to ‘get my head out of that book”. I never enjoyed these activities and would be drawn back to my reading! I would knock over a book in a day and then I would re-read over and over again my small range of books.
I have often wondered why I wasnt encouraged more. Alot of reasons I guess – but something my mum shared with me made me see how important others ‘in power’ can be in nurturing and supporting literacy and a love of books.
My mother tells me that at age 3 I was nagging her to teach me to read. She went to the local school for advice on how to do this and was told in no uncertain terms that this was what they would teach me when I went to school at age 5 and that she had no business in getting involved in this process. Mum says now that she wishes she had been more forthright and wished there had been ’something’ she could read to help her.
I am very proud to say that I have purchased mum a copy of Reading Magic For christmas and I know she will use this knowledge with her grandsons! LUCKY BOYS!
So Mem.. thank you, thank you, thank you so very sincerely for giving people ’something’ they can turn to for support and advice to nuture and support childrens emotional, spiritual, psychological and literacy development!
Hi Mem
Just had my sons school review (7.1/2yr)
I reccomend your website to his teacher.
As i have with all his teachers previous.
I constantly reccomend your books to friends.
simply refreshing and exciting to read.
many thanks
John
plymouth (the original!)
dear mem,
this website is really good. i was wondering;
when did you start writing? & what inspires you to write?
Hallo from Iceland.
I just wanted to tell you that I am using your reading philosophy in educating parents of young children about the importance of reading to children from the beginning, both from your webside and your book, Reading magic. I have also published your “Ten read-aloud commandments” in icelandic on the Reykjanes public library webside (see reykjanesbaer.is/bokasafn), where I work. Thank you for your good advices.
Unfortunately we don´t have your childrens books translated in icelandic.
Dear Mem,
Apart from being an avid Fox reader with my three boys, I wanted to share a story:
My twins just celebrated their 4th birthday with their FIRST party. I decided to theme it Possum Magic for the simple fact of a ready menu plan! In the lead up I was horrified to learn that only one of our guests had ever heard of it but no-one among both children and parents was familiar with it.
On a rainy day what a perfect way to host a party! Paper stars hung from the ceiling. The food was labelled with lines from the story. The children (including some very energetic souls) sat spellbound for a reading of the book which had become necessary given the lack of familiarity. As we went through it they revisited the particular foods they had been eating. They then moved on to Pin-The-Tail on Hush which I had made up myself and finally I sent them off to hunt for chocolate koalas. The boys picked cakes from the animals in the illustrations – an echidna for Justin and a rainbow snake for Sean.
I tried to find ideas online but was surprised that to date no-one seems to have done a Possum Magic themed party and written about it. So here I am doing just that.
To be able to capture the children’s attention with your book was truly the highlight. From me and mine, thank you for a simple but absolutely magical party. It couldn’t have happened without the story in the first place.
We love you Mem Fox!
Malcolm and Edna
xxx
congratulations mem on your new book – i just heard and saw you read it on youtube and was very moved by the very special tale and the illustrations are also very beautiful. my 4 little granddarlings are still a bit too young for this one (they are wearing out the green sheep and 10 little fingers at present) but i will go and buy it on the weekend and have it ready in my bookcase for them. very much looking forward to the next one.
a very appreciative oma (dutch for grandmother)
Hi mem! This is Katie from Carrum Downs Primary School. At school I read a lot of your books, and I just wanted to say to you that you are one of the most bestest authors around the world. And if you can could you please send us one of your most bestest books that you have writen to little children just like us! And another thing is that you are a champion at writing! Love you lots! Katie xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Dear Mem,
Am trying to track down big book copy of Memories an Auto biography. Want to use it as model for teaching autobiographies.
The big book also had teaching notes with it when I used it at St Kieran catholic Primary school in Western Australia.
George D.
Dear Mem
I just love “Possum Magic”! Since having been introduced to this beautiful book in 1989 by a Canadian lass I was working with, have given it in gifts to new babies of family and friends. I now send copies of your books to granddaughter overseas.
Heard you on ABC interview this week, loved the interview and this is reason I came looking for your website.
hello mem just a fan acknoledging your acheivements as an author
my favourite book is borris the pirate and i nearly cried at the end.
You have inspired me to become an author as reading is one of my passions. hopefully you should reply and if you dont well my heart will be smash in to a thousand peices goodbye for now mem
yours sincerly
Matthew M.
Hi Mem,
Ever since I was a little girl growing up in the late 80’s I have loved to read. Loved it so much that I would always, always, always have a book on me, or around and piles waiting to be read.
I attribute that to my mother, who was kind enough to begin reading to me all the time from when I was a baby, and continued to do so till I was able to take over and read to her! Every week she would take her apple box to the local library and fill it up with books for me and my sisters to read, bring them home for us and we’d all exclaim “Oh, that book! I love that book!” over and over as we took each one out of the box. We’d read them all, often the four of us together taking turns to thrust our favourite forwards to be read next. To this day we can still recall them, and only recently recited ” Each Peach Pear Plum” in chorus as our shared copy was bestowed upon the newest member of the family.
Then mum would go back the next week, and come home with another box of treasures,and the fun would start over again. Mum was so committed to doing this for us that the local librarians started to call her “the box lady” affectionately amongst themselves, something she only found out recently after all those years when she ran into one of them that had retired when I was still in primary school!
I’m now 23, and mum still borrows books for me from that same local library. Her old apple box has long since fallen to bits under the weight of all those many thousands of books it transfered home. I’m a mum now too, to a gorgeous 6 month old girl, who I have read aloud to with pleasure since she was in utero. What a joy for me to be able to revist the old favourites and pass my family’s love for them onto a new generation of readers and learners. My daughter is lucky enough to own a lot of them, and Possum Magic was the first one I purchased for her, as it was always my favourite. She’s an active little girl, always curious and interested in everything, but will stay very still when we’re reading. Except when we’re giggling over a funny sound that arises in the text!
It was only this morning that I finished reading your Reading Magic and felt even more appreciative to mum for how hard she worked to give us the best possible start at life through the wonderful possibilities that reading opens up. It’s making me so excited by the thought of all the years to come of reading with Isabelle. And proudly becoming a “box lady” myself!
Thank you Mem,
Your books are one of a kind. Remembering them from a young age. Am a mother of 2 bright young girls. I was reading your comments on Mem on babies in child care. I know some people who done this and find it really hard to support them in those decisions. I rack my brain to try to understand why they do it, and have many answers that are only negative. We live on one wage and have a mortgage and am really proud of the fact that we manage. I’m not ashamed, nor feel like I’m missing out, because if i missed out on my girls growing up into fine young women, I would be devastated. I can’t express how sad i feel for some women in our Generation (X). But it is a choice, and your choice not to see, feel, read to your children is yet sad and lonley.
Thanks again Mem. Your stories are heard and not forgotten. xxoo
To dear Mem,
I remember being read your books as a child, and it is wonderful for me to be able to share these wonderful stories with my own son. His current favourite is “The Magic Hat” – we’ll read it at least 6-7 times a day! He’s two, and knows it by heart. He can ‘read’ the story to me, turning the pages at the right time and he buiilds up the suspense, waiting to see what the people turn into when the hat falls on their head! It is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
I have a true passion for reading and I think that one of the greatest gifts we could ever give our children is the time and attention we give when we sit and read a book together.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing my son and I with stories of love and adventure so that we can spend special moments together.
Yours truly
Kylie B.
Dearest Mem,
I am a 26 (nearly 27) year old mother attending (finally) college part time for my early childhood education degree. One of my classes is a Child Literature Class. My teacher seems to talk of you so lovingly and I can now see why. Your books are wonderful and even more your voice is soothing to listen to when you read them. My husband, my two sons (4 and 5) and I sat and listened to you reading a few different selections here on your site. My sons kept asking for more and I am determined to make a book store trip out of our experience :) My mother lives near Melbourne. I haven’t spoken to her in years ( I am in the States, she is remarried and has moved on with her life), however a warm feeling washed over me when I found out where you were from. Thanks for writing such lovely books as well as loving what you do! Your books will be in my preschool teacher collection I swear it :)
~ Ohio, USA
Mem
About 7 years ago, I heard you speak at a Chicago Public Library program on how important it is to read to your child. As a children’s librarian, I knew how important it was, but that evening, I ran out (seriously) and bought your book that evening. I also made a promise to myself that I would send a copy to anyone I knew who was pregnant. But, since I am way past the age of having pregnant friends, I decided to target my grown children’s friends. And believe me, there were/are many. I mail your book, a card and small baby gift to each and every-one of them, some who have never met me, with the signature “Rob’s Mom” or “Your Mom’s friend”. The have all thanked me and, most importantly, read the book and started reading to their babies, often in utero.
I heard you speak two years ago in Tucson, Arizona (where I now live—and still am a children’s librarian). You read Ten little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, which I fell in love with— and often send off as a first birthday gift.
I guess you can tell that I am a true fan.
Thanks, Susan
Tucson, Arizona, USA
Hello Mem,
My son Elijah is turning one next week and practically every day since he was born (sometimes up to 3 times a day now that we give him the choice of what to read) we have read “Where is the Green Sheep” aloud to him. Such is his obsession with this beautiful little book that we are having a green sheep b’day party for him next Saturday. The guests will have to wait until the cake comes out to find the green sheep and he won’t be fast asleep but will be “dancing!” Thank you for writing the book – even though you went to hell and back to get it right – it has been a true gift to my child and a gift to us adults who dearly love the bonding “our” green sheep has brought us. The last page of Elijah’s copy is all creased, torn and mended with sticky tape, with little finger prints all over it because he is always so excited to turn to the last page. Even now after 12 months, he still gasps and smiles when he sees that green sheep even though he knows it is coming! Elijah’s second favourite book is “These are My Hands” by Judy Horacek – so thanks for inspiring her! Love Lynda, Peter and Elijah x
Dear Mem,
Hi, I am from Singapore and I heard from my friends that your books are very popular among children and that your books are very good. I’ve actually read the story on Wilfrid Gordon and found that it is a very touching story.I would like to ask you which books would you recommend, if I want to do a drama and incorporate music/dance and act out the story in front of my class? Hope to hear from you soon.
Dear Mem Fox,
Hello! We just read Koala Lou. I like Koala Lou because Koala Lou tried to win the Bush Olympics. It has a mom Koala and a baby koala.
When Koala Lou tried to win the Bush Olympics it reminds me of me and my friend racing to her house and to my house and I did not win the race. I was slow and she was fast.
Your Friend
Alondra.
Dear Mem Fox,
Hello! We just read Koala Lou..
I like Koala Lou. I like when Koala Lou mom said I do love you.
When Koala Lou klim trees it reminds me when Luis klim trees.
Your friend
Luis
Dear Mem Fox,
Hello! We just read Koala Lou. I like Koala Lou. Because it reminds me of my
Koala toy. I like when her mom said Koala Lou I do love you. When Koala Lou clime to the top of tree it reminds me of when I jump out of a tree
Your friend,
Arturo
Dear Mam fox,
Hello! I like Koala Lou. Because I like when the mom said I do love you Koala Lou . I like Koala Lou because Koala Lou did pushups. When Koala Lou climed the gum tree it reminds me of when I climed tree in my Granpa house. It reminds me of when Koala Lou clime the gum tree very fast. Love , Ana
Dear Mem Fox,
I am a 2nd grade teacher and we have been reading some of your books. Our class favorite was Koala Lou. I shared with my students your website and we looked at what you said about Koala Lou and we saw that people wrote to you. My students were SO excited to write to you and practice sharing their opinion of your book. You will be getting 14 letters…haha I hope you can understand their excitement of writing to you and being able to type it on the computer! It was too exciting of a moment to pass up in my classroom! Thank you for sharing your books with us and for exciting my students with a special letter to you!
Mrs. Coker
Dear Mem Fox,
Hello! We just read Koala Lou. I love Koala Lou because when Koala Lous mom had her she always tells her Koala Lou
I do love you. I love her to because when Koala Lou went to the bush
Olympics she thot that she was going to win. Koala Lous mom still said
Koala Lou I do love you. When I saw Koala Lou was lonely it reminds me when my friends left me alone.
your friend,
Anthony
Dear Mem Fox,
Hello! We just read Koala Lou. I like Koala Lou. Because her mom said Koala Lou I do love you. She did the Olympics so her mom will say Koala Lou I do love you.
When Koala Lou did the Olympics it reminds me when I watch the movie . The movie was speshles doing the Olympics to just like Koala Lou .
Your Friend,
India
Dear Mem,
Thank you for your generous gift to our school. It was quite unexpected and great excitement was generated by the students and staff to have a personally signed book by a great author as yourself. It will take pride of place in our small library and if you are ever in our area please feel free to visit us. Our library day is Wednesday. You are a magnificient Australian and a credit to children’s literature. Contragulations !!!!
Allen S.
Principal
Dear Mem,
I just want to tell you how much I have enjoyed your work for teachers and parents and how much I have referred it to others. The first book I read was Radical Reflections. It was recommended by a friend and I loved it. I was teaching a Science for Elementary teachers course and used the chapter, There’s a Coffin in my Office, as a discussion starter on assessment. It really gets to the heart of how we think about assessing understanding. I recently suggested it to a spinning instructor whose background was physical education and dance. How perfect!
Today I was talking to a cousin about her child’s reading problems and suggested Reading Magic. As a educator and long time advocate of reading aloud to children, I was surprised at how many tips I picked up to make reading aloud more effective. I have started buying it and one of your children’s books for baby showers.
I’m not surprised that you will miss visiting classrooms but your emphasis on teachers and teacher education will be an excellent use of your expertise and will have an impact on an astronomical number of children.