Famed New Zealand children's author Margaret Mahy died yesterday in Christchurch following a brief illness, aged 76.

Mahy, who held the country's highest royal honour - membership of the Order of New Zealand - wrote 100 picture books, 40 novels and 20 collections of short stories.

Her works were translated into 15 languages.

Mahy's first book to be published, in 1969, was A Lion in the Meadow, which was discovered by American editor Sarah Chockla Gross, who published five of Mahy's stories as picture books, launching her international career.

Here is the latest selection of your thoughts and memories of Margaret Mahy's books:

  1. your views
  2. Karen says
    "I loved Margaret Mahy's books as a child, and will be reading them to my daughter when she's a bit older. My absolute favourite was 'The Changeover'."
  3. Bex Carr says
    "Margaret Mahy was a national treasure, her stories will live on through future generations. What an amazing woman."
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