Mr Squiggle and the Preposterous Purple Crocodile

Mr Squiggle is back!

Celebrating the arrival of Mr Squiggle and his Friends, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel, Gus the Snail and Blackboard to their new home at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, NMA Press has republished Mr Squiggle and the Preposterous Purple Crocodile: a charming story about inviting friends over for "ice cream, cakes and jellies" (AKA afternoon tea) and an uninvited guest trying to derail the party.

In April 2024 the National Museum of Australia acquired more than 800 objects from Mr Squiggle creator Norman Hetherington's extensive archive of puppets, props and scripts, including the beloved children's television character Mr Squiggle.

Working directly from Norman Hetherington's' stunning original watercolour illustrations, NMA Press has faithfully republished the story in a new edition with an afterword by Norman and Margaret's daughter Rebecca Hetherington, who stared alongside the Man from the Moon in 190 episodes on ABC TV.

Thirty years on from its first release the story has retained all its whimsical creativity and fun, ready to enchant a new generation of Australian children.

About the Illustrator

Norman Hetherington OAM was an Australian artist, cartoonist, puppeteer, and puppet designer. He is best remembered as the creator of one of Australia’s longest running children’s shows, Mr Squiggle.

About the Author

Margaret Hetherington was an actor, author and scriptwriter for Mr Squiggle and Friends on ABC TV. She was the author of three books for children: Mr Squiggle and the Great Moon Robbery (1980), Mr Squiggle and the Preposterous Purple Crocodile (1991), and Mr Squiggle to the Rescue (1998).