Huge congratulations to our own Marcia Hatfield on her richly deserved honour - an Order of Australia medal for media and services to children's literature and film!
Marcia's books have delighted millions of children around the world - and helped their parents get their little darlings to brush their teeth.
Her best known book is The Toothbrush Fairy, written from her tooth brushing battles with her recalcitrant 5 year old son. The book turned TV series played out the nightly adventures of the toothbrush fairy who came to life when a magic moonbeam entered the bathroom. From then on he and eventually millions of children became converted tooth brushers.
The cartoon reached a daily audience of about 5 million kids around the world. Marcia is still hearing from some of them :-) She's even spoken at the World Health Organisation in Geneva!
86 year old Marcia is currently working on 'a new toothbrush family for today's kids.' Plus she's hoping to create a health foundation to address the problems of children's oral hygiene.
'To be honest, I'm overwhelmed,' says the modest Marcia. 'It never occurred to me that this could happen.'
Sure that all SCBWI members are united in sending their warmest congrats to Marcia on this wonderful achievement!