the bush. Now considered a classic in Australian children's literature, Possum Magic is Australia's bestselling children's book. Literary career In 1984, Fox's second book Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge was published by Omnibus Books. It follows a boy who helps his elderly neighbor recover her lost memory through gifts. The title of the book was the name of her father. The book Guess What? ranks number 66 on the American list of the 100 most-challenged books 1990 to 2000. Groups and agencies can challenge a book to prevent it from being available to be read by the general public. Teaching career In 1981, while working in drama, Fox decided to retrain in literacy studies. She said: "Literacy has become the great focus of my life – it's my passion, my battle and my mission and my exhaustion". She has published books on literacy aimed at children, their parents, teachers and educators. She held the position of Associate Professor, Literacy Studies, in the School of Education at Flinders University until her retirement in 1996. Since her retirement from teaching, Fox travels around the world visiting many countries and doing presentations and speaking on children's books and literacy issues. Following an interrogation by US immigration officials on a trip in February 2017 to deliver a keynote speech in Milwaukee, Fox said that she would probably never visit the US again. Personal life Fox is married to teacher Malcolm Fox. Her daughter, Chloë Fox, is a former member of the South Australian House of Assembly. As she dislikes her given, legal name, Fox began using her nickname "Mem" around thirteen years of age. Awards and recognition Won – New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for young people's literature for Possum Magic (1984) Won – Dromkeen Medal (1990) Won – Member of the Order of Australia for "services to children's literature" (1993) Won – COOL Award for Possum Magic (1994) Won – Centenary Medal (2001) Honorary doctorates – Wollongong and Flinders Universities, Australia in 1996 and 2004. Works Children's books Possum Magic (1983), illustrated by Julie Vivas Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (1984), illustrated by Julie Vivas A Cat called Kite (1985), illustrated by K. Hawley Zoo-Looking (1986), illustrated by Rodney McRae Arabella, the Smallest Girl in the World (1986), illustrated by Vicky Kitanov Hattie and the Fox (1986), illustrated by Patricia Mullins Just Like That (1986) with Kilmeny Niland Sail Away: The