The news du jour is all about Margaret Mahy winning the 2006 Hans Christian Andersen Author Award. This biennial prize is pretty much on the level of the Nobel, but it’s for childrens’ literature and really, really, like, huge out there in the whole entire world. And it makes Margaret Mahy only the second Australiasian writer to win the award in the 50 years since its inception.

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) called our Madge ‘one of the world’s most original re-inventers of language’. Indeed she is. Her achievements and awards are far too many to list here, but that’s why we have the thrice blessed Book Council website.

I was listening last night to the National Radio broadcast of the 'Are Angels OK' event from last year and I was consistently impressed with Margaret, who kept popping in very shrewd and perceptive comments in her dry, no-bullshit, kiwi tones. Can't wait to see her in a few weeks with Elizabeth Knox and Kate de Goldi at the Book Council event 'Imagine This' on the 24th May.

Storylines chairwoman Rosemary Tisdall (who nominated her) said ‘This is a huge achievement and the whole of New Zealand, children and adults like, congratulates its greatest and most beloved writer.’ Apparently Margaret is also uncharacteristically chuffed, saying ‘I can’t afford to get too conceited about it…’ You can, and we will. LeafSalon joins the ranks in congratulating Ms Mahy for her amazing mind – long may it continue to come up with extraordinary things.