Sali Mali

Sali Mali is a popular Welsh children's book and television character, originally created by author Mary Vaughan Jones and illustrated by Rowena Wyn Jones[1] during the 1960s and 1970s. Many Welsh-speaking children learnt to read by reading Sali Mali books.

The original Sali Mali, as drawn by Rowena Wyn Jones, published in 1969.

Books

Following the death of Mary Vaughan Jones, many of her original books were re-published. The copyright belonged to Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion until the publisher was bought by Gomer Press in 2009. Characters are:

  • Sali Mali
  • Jac Do (Jackdaw)
  • Jaci Soch
  • Jac y Jwc
  • Jini
  • Tomos Caradog (Thomas Caradog)
  • Nicw Nacw
  • Pry Bach Tew
  • Siani Flewog
  • Dwmplen Malwoden
  • Morgan and Magi Ann
  • Mop Golchi Llestri (Dish Washing Mop)
  • Llwy Bren (Wooden Spoon)
  • Sosban Fach (Small Saucepan)

Many new titles for children were authored by Dylan Williams and illustrated by Simon Bradbury. One of these books courted controversy in December 2007, when Sali Mali a'r Hwdi Chwim was published, in the story Sali Mali's iPod is stolen by a hoodie. Several bookshops boycotted the book by refusing to stock it.[2]

Television series

An animated Sali Mali series was produced by Siriol Productions and Cymru Cyfru and Calon for S4C in 2000. The theme tune to this was sung by Cerys Matthews (Angharad Bisby in some versions), the series is narrated by Rhys Ifans.[3] Sali Mali had broadcast in English on Nickelodeon. The show now airs on Channel 4 and has also been sold to Scandinavian counties.[4]

A pre-school children's television series, Caffi Sali Mali, was produced by Sianco for S4C in 1994. There was also a spin off of this series called Slot Syniadau Sali. It was written by Ifana Savill[5] using the characters created by Mary Vaughan Jones, including Sali Mali's pet bird, Jac-do, and her good friend, Jac y Jwc. This series is produced using actors in costumes and puppets. Sali Mali runs a cafe in the small village of "Pentre Bach" (English Little Village). A follow up series, Pentre Bach, which consisted of 52 episodes and aired on 6 September 2004, was filmed using a purpose built village, located in Blaenpennal, which is also a guest centre run by Ifana and Adrian Savill.[6] The rights to the series were bought by Al-Jazeera in April 2006, to be shown across the Middle East in Arabic.[7]

Languages are:

  • English
  • German
  • Danish
  • Welsh
  • Arabic
  • Norwegian
  • Spanish
  • Polish
  • Korean

Episodes
  • Autumn Leaves
  • Little Lamb Lost
  • Dirty Feet
  • Time Flies
  • Windy Day
  • Stowaway Guest
  • Leaving Home
  • Christmas Eve
  • Digging for Treasure
  • Splash Day
  • Wet Paint
  • Hot and Bothered
  • Playing in the Snow
  • Snowed In
  • Hide and Eek
  • Who Ate The Lettuce?
  • Twins
  • Hot Day
  • Say Cheese
  • Lost Friends
  • Easter Eggstravaganza
  • Blackberry Belly
  • A Model Model
  • Chimney Weep
  • Snow Fun
  • Mushroom Madness
  • Have An Ice-Day
  • Feeding the Birds
  • Sing Along A-Sali
  • Achoo
  • Naughty Day
  • Spring Clean
  • Mama Jackdaw
  • One, Two, Three
  • At The Seaside
  • Let's Go Camping
  • Happy Birthday, Jackdaw
  • Falling Leaves
  • Bake A Cake
  • Balloon Race
  • How Does Your Garden Grow
  • The Storm
  • The Visitors
  • Snap!
  • Making Music
  • The New Teddy
  • Sticky Toffee
  • Boo!
  • Making Masks
  • Keep Fit
  • All Tied Up
  • He's Been Framed

References
  1. Jones, Mary Vaughan; Rowena Wyn Jones (1969). Sali Mali. Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion. p. 25. ISBN 1-902416-58-9.
  2. "Sali Mali 'mugged by hoodie' row". BBC News. 20 December 2007.
  3. "Cerys records animation song". BBC News. 7 December 2001.
  4. Sarah Manners (23 April 2008). "S4C set for leading role in kids' TV". Western Mail.
  5. "Sali Mali's countryside move". BBC News. 14 March 2003.
  6. "Cyfle i serennu gyda Sali Mali" (in Welsh). BBC Lleol Canolbarth. 2006.
  7. David Ward (4 April 2006). "Al-Jazeera to air TV series about multiracial Welsh sheep family". The Guardian.

A list of the Sali Mali titles currently in print can be found at http://www.gomer.co.uk/index.php/books-for-children/sali-mali.html

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