Ultra-Violet Catastrophe!: Or, The Unexpected Walk with Great-Uncle Magnus Pringle

by Margaret Mahy, Brian Froud (Illustrator)

Sally's walk with Great-Uncle Magnus brings pleasure to both, but horrifies fastidious Aunt Anne.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Margaret Mahy was a well-known New Zealand author of children's and young adult books. While the plots of many of her books have strong supernatural elements, her writing concentrates on the themes of human relationships and growing up.

Her books The Haunting and The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance both received the Carnegie Medal of the British Library Association. There have 100 children's books, 40 novels, and 20 collections of her stories published. Among her children's books, A Lion in the Meadow and The Seven Chinese Brothers and The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate are considered national classics. Her novels have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Japanese, Catalan and Afrikaans. In addition, some stories have been translated into Russian, Chinese and Icelandic.

For her contributions to children's literature she was made a member of the Order of New Zealand. The Margaret Mahy Medal Award was established by the New Zealand Children's Book Foundation in 1991 to provide recognition of excellence in children's literature, publishing and literacy in New Zealand. In 2006 she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award (known as the Little Nobel Prize) in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature".

Margaret Mahy died on 23 July 2012.

On 29 April 2013, New Zealand’s top honour for children’s books was renamed the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret...

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorite picture books when I was younger! Everyone should have a Great-Uncle Magnus in their lives!!!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is this not better known? At least it is finally scanned into openlibrary.org for archival purposes.
I want to let someone else enjoy this little treasure, with the perfectly apt art by Froud, but I just can't bear to think I'd never have a chance to pore over it again and so am not letting the copy that I bought go yet.

[Cassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the absolute best children's book of all time.

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started with a visit to Aunt Anne Pringle's home, where for the first time Sally met her Great-Uncle Magnus Pringle. It was suggested that Sally and her Great-Uncle Magnus go for a walk. A walk seemed innocent enough; after all how much trouble can you get into on a walk...

Apparently a walk can be a very dangerous and adventurous thing. There are hedges and mud puddles, tree pirates and dams, and a large brown-and-white cow that chased them through a barbed-wire fence.

Sally and Great-Uncle Magnus ended up wet, muddy, stained and torn. But despite all they had a wonderful adventure that was simply 'Horrible Stumper' and 'Ultra-Violet Catastrophe'.

I love this book, it is delightful and engaging, and leaves you with a smile on your face. A warm hearted story that is beautifully illustrated and will always be cherished by young and old readers alike.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about a kid connecting with a kindred-spirit adult, having muddy, tree-climbing outdoor fun, like all kids should.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like opening a can of play-doh and taking an inhalation.

[Cherie Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books you remember long after your children are grown. This is one of them.

[Becky Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every kid should have a Great-Uncle Magnus.

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother first read this to me, and I was lucky enough to find a copy at a library book sale. If you can lay your hands on one, do! The story is enchanting, but the illustrations by Brian Froud (of Pressed Faeries fame) are what make this an exceptional picture book. You'll find yourself saying Seismological Singularity! at odd moments...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite children's books, my sister read it to me until I could read it for myself I have read it over 100 times, I own a falling apart copy : /

[AquaMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stars for Nostalgia Factor

I owned this book when I was a kid, so young the first time I encountered it I had it read TO me rather than reading it myself. Once I could read myself, it was a favorite. I loved the idea of an unexpected adventure where I got to be 100% myself...despite the certain knowledge trouble would surely follow. Heck, I STILL love this idea (And I totally want to go on an unexpected adventure). Cute message too. Love everything about this book!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost 50 years old now, this copy smells and looks like it. Sally is clearly a free spirit and her mom seems mainly supportive of her wild child, but then they go to visit a rather rigid aunt. Sally isn’t looking forward to it, but when they get there, an equally free-spirited wild uncle takes Sally on a walk. They adventure through the countryside in a delightful fashion.

A heartwarming friendship.

[Elizabeth Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book for several years and just picked it up again tonight. It’s an adorable, heart-warming book that focuses on an unusual bonding of a great-uncle and a girl through a silly adventure. I imagine how wonderful she must feel to be accepted and understood.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good! I love Great-Uncle Magnus ☺

[Brigette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure magic. Every child should experience this book being read to him/her and having the beautiful artwork emblazoned in their treasure trove of childhood memories. I still own the copy I've had for over 35 years!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to be so delighted by this little out-of-print gem that I picked up at a thrift store this week. The kids and I enjoyed some laugh-out-loud moments while reading it.

[Nedinska]

this was a book that I had when I was a little girl-lovely memories of reading it!

[Catherine Hollingsworth]

One of the best books I ever read as a child. You will want your kids to own this book. And you will enjoy reading it to them out loud.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all-time favorite from my childhood! Magical!

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a gem! I still love this story. I wish it were still in print. I'd buy copies for everyone :)

[Jaimie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute.