Big week for Kiwi creator of beloved book character

Hopes for NZer at prestigious book awards.

Mrs Wishy-Washy has entertained generations of Kiwi children. But Joy Cowley remembers when the book character was nothing more than the germ of an idea.

‘‘Allow me to tell you a little about Mrs Wishy-Washy’s history. That washerwoman is nearly 50 years old.’’

The Wairarapa author, 81, is in Europe, a finalist for the coveted Hans Christian Andersen Award to be presented in Bologna in Italy on Tuesday.

But the jolly little washerwoman she and her friend Elizabeth Fuller created all those years ago is about to take New Zealand by storm.

After frustration at ‘‘unauthorised people’’ making and selling Mrs Wishy-Washy products, Cowley has finally authorised the creation of a limited edition doll.

‘‘I did the original design because I needed to test stories in schools, and the stories needed illustrations.

‘‘When the first Wishy-Washy book was published, Liz Fuller built on my drawings and perfected the characters.

‘‘For years, Liz and I sort of shared the image of Mrs WishyWashy.’’

Chris Stephens’ company, Antics Marketing, created the soft toy.

‘‘She tracked us down and wanted us to develop this, and we thought it was worthwhile doing it,’’ Stephens said.

‘‘It was Kiwi, and it’s good to get behind it. I was staggered that it hadn’t been done before.’’

Cowley, who became a Member of the Order of New Zealand in 2017, is one of five international authors shortlisted for a lifetime achievement award.

Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust chair Dr Libby Limbrick said: ‘‘Cowley has been identified as being, probably, the person who has made the greatest contribution internationally to children’s literature – it blinking well puts New Zealand on the map yet again.’’

Writing on her website ahead of the awards, Cowley is more contained. She tells how she had hoped to grow old disgracefully – instead, she and her husband Terry Coles study crossword puzzles and weather forecasts, remind each other about medication and hold hands crossing the road.

‘‘Yes, we can still feel guilty about eating a whole carton of salted caramel icecream between us.’’

DAVID WHITE/STUFF Zoe Stephens, 3, has a new best friend – Mrs Wishy-Washy, a doll being produced by a family toy company. The character was created by Joy Cowley, inset, nearly 50 years ago.