Sali Mali

Sali Mali

Company type	Children's media franchise
Industry	Children's literature, Television
Founded	1969
Founder	Mary Vaughan Jones, Rowena Wyn Jones
Products	Books, Television series
Website	http://www.gomer.co.uk/index.php/books-for-children/sali-mali.html

Sali Mali stands as a well-known children's figure in Welsh literature and television, originally created in 1969 by writer Mary Vaughan Jones alongside illustrator Rowena Wyn Jones. This series significantly contributed to literacy development among young Welsh speakers.

Books

Following the passing of Mary Vaughan Jones, her works were reissued. Initially, Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion retained the publishing rights until they were transferred to Gomer Press in 2009. Prominent characters within the series include Sali Mali, Jac Do (Jackdaw), Jaci Soch, Jac y Jwc, Jini (Sali Mali's sibling), Tomos Caradog, Nicw Nacw, Pry Bach Tew, Siani Flewog, Dwmplen Malwoden, Morgan and Magi Ann, Mop Golchi Llestri (Dish Washing Mop), Llwy Bren (Wooden Spoon), and Sosban Fach (Small Saucepan).

Subsequent titles were written by Dylan Williams with illustrations by Simon Bradbury. A notable publication, Sali Mali a'r Hwdi Chwim (2007), generated controversy due to its portrayal of a hoodie character stealing Sali Mali’s iPod, which led to some retailers refusing to stock the book.

Television series

Prior to 1994, there were no television adaptations of Sali Mali. That year marked the launch of the live-action preschool musical show Caffi Sali Mali, produced by Siânco for S4C, which aired until 2001. This episodic program combined songs with appearances of characters portrayed through costumes and puppetry. It was followed by a spin-off series titled Slot Syniadau Sali.

Between 2004 and 2007, the soap-opera style series Pentre Bach was broadcast over 52 episodes. It was filmed in a specially constructed village located in Blaenpennal, which also serves as a visitor centre managed by Ifana and Adrian Savill. Earlier, in 2000, an animated version was created through collaboration among Siriol Productions, Cymru Cyfru, and Calon for S4C. Narrated by Rhys Ifans with a theme song performed by Cerys Matthews, this version was also shown on Nickelodeon and Channel 4 in English and distributed across Scandinavian countries.

In April 2006, broadcasting rights were secured by Al-Jazeera for airing throughout the Middle East with Arabic dubbing.

The series has been adapted into numerous languages such as British English, German, Danish, Welsh, Arabic, Norwegian, Latin American Spanish, Polish, Korean, Scottish Gaelic, French, Italian, Hebrew, Swedish, Finnish, Brazilian Portuguese, Turkish, Slovene, Mandarin Chinese, American English, European Portuguese, and Castilian Spanish.

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

A current catalog of Sali Mali publications can be found at http://www.gomer.co.uk/index.php/books-for-children/sali-mali.html