Sali Mali
Encyclopedia
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 during the 1960s and 1970s. Many Welsh-speaking
children learnt to read by reading Sali Mali books.
until the publisher was bought by Gomer Press
in 2009. 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.
and Calon for S4C
. The theme tune to this was sung by Cerys Matthews
, the series is narrated by Rhys Ifans
. Sali Mali had broadcast in English
on Nickelodeon & is currently being broadcast on BabyFirst TV and has also been sold to Scandinavian
counties.
A pre-school children's television series, Caffi Sali Mali, was produced by Sianco for S4C
. It was written by Ifana Savill 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, was filmed using a purpose built village, located in Blaenpennal, which is also a guest
centre run by Ifana and Adrian Savill. The rights to the series were bought by Al-Jazeera in April 2006, to be shown across the Middle East in Arabic.
EP by the Super Furry Animals
in 1995. The Threatmantics
have also named a single in her honour, which was released in August 2007.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
children's book and television character, originally created by author Mary Vaughan Jones
Mary Vaughan Jones
Mary Vaughan Jones was a celebrated Welsh children's author and schoolteacher.She was born at 'Firs Cottage', Maenan near Llanrwst in 1918, and died in the Rhuddlan area, Clwyd in 1983...
and illustrated by Rowena Wyn Jones during the 1960s and 1970s. Many Welsh-speaking
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
children learnt to read by reading Sali Mali books.
Books
Following the death of Mary Vaughan Jones, many of her original books were re-published. The copyright belonged to Cymdeithas Lyfrau CeredigionCymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion
Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion was a Welsh publisher, established in 1954, specialising in books of interest to Ceredigion, and Welsh language children's books, including adaptations and original works...
until the publisher was bought by Gomer Press
Gomer Press
Gomer Press is a printing and publishing company based in Llandysul, west Wales. The company was first established in 1892 and is owned by the same family to this day. Jonathan Lewis, the great grandson of the company's founder, is the current managing director...
in 2009. 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
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
is stolen by a hoodie
Hoodie
A hoodie is a sweatshirt with a hood. The characteristic design includes large frontal pockets, a hood, and a drawstring to adjust the hood opening. They are sometimes worn with sweatpants. Some hoodies have zippers on them to allow easy removal much like a jacket...
. Several bookshops boycotted the book by refusing to stock it.
Television series
An animated Sali Mali series was produced by Siriol ProductionsSiriol Productions
Calon is a Welsh animation Television production based in Cardiff, who primarily produce animation series in Welsh for S4C. The company was formerly known as Siriol Productions.- History :...
and Calon for S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
. The theme tune to this was sung by Cerys Matthews
Cerys Matthews
Cerys Elizabeth Matthews is a Welsh singer and songwriter. She is known as the lead singer of the Welsh rock band Catatonia, her more recent bilingual solo career, and for a 1998 Christmas duet with Tom Jones.-Biography:...
, the series is narrated by Rhys Ifans
Rhys Ifans
Rhys Ifans is a Welsh actor and musician. He is known for his portrayal of characters such as Spike in Notting Hill and Jed Parry in Enduring Love and as a member of the Welsh rock groups Super Furry Animals and The Peth. Ifans also appeared as Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly...
. Sali Mali had broadcast in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
on Nickelodeon & is currently being broadcast on BabyFirst TV and has also been sold to Scandinavian
North Germanic languages
The North Germanic languages or Scandinavian languages, the languages of Scandinavians, make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages, along with the West Germanic languages and the extinct East Germanic languages...
counties.
A pre-school children's television series, Caffi Sali Mali, was produced by Sianco for S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
. It was written by Ifana Savill 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
Pentre Bach
Pentre Bach is a television programme for young children, shown on the Welsh-language channel S4C as part of the daily Planed Plant sequence...
, which consisted of 52 episodes, was filmed using a purpose built village, located in Blaenpennal, which is also a guest
Guest
Guest may refer to:* A person who is given hospitality* "The Guest", a short story by Albert Camus* The Guest , a 2002 album by Phantom Planet* USS Guest , a U.S...
centre run by Ifana and Adrian Savill. The rights to the series were bought by Al-Jazeera in April 2006, to be shown across the Middle East in Arabic.
Other
Sali Mali has also been referenced in popular culture, due to her presence in so many Welsh people's childhoods. A song was named after her on the Moog DroogMoog Droog
Moog Droog is the second EP by the Super Furry Animals. It was originally released in October 1995 by the Welsh label Ankst Records, and reissued in May 1997...
EP by the Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
in 1995. The Threatmantics
Threatmantics
Threatmantics are a band from Cardiff, Wales. The band's current members are Heddwyn Davies , Andrew Lewis , Gareth Middleton & Huw Alun Davies ....
have also named a single in her honour, which was released in August 2007.