AustLit

The colourful imagery of freelance illustrator Vicky Kitanov has contributed to the work of numerous children's authors including that of May Gibbs (q.v.). Having 'always admired' the work of Gibbs, Kitanov became the 'approved re-illustrator' of Gibbs' work when Ten Little Gumnuts was published by Angus and Robertson in 1990.

Kitanov later wrote and illustrated The Gumnuts' Year (1993), a work 'based' on characters that were orginally 'created' by Gibbs. This work contains the acknowledgment that Kitanov 'works with the full cooperation of the May Gibbs' copyright owners'.

In 1997, Kitanov's association with the adaptation of Gibbs' material aroused debate when HarperCollins published re-worked editions of May Gibbs' classics. Re-written by Anna Fienberg (q.v.) and re-illustrated by Kitanov, the HarperCollins series called 'The World of May Gibbs' re-told and updated the orginal Gibbs' stories which were now aimed at the readership of a new generation. But controversy surrounded the decision to tamper with Gibbs' iconic work which is regarded as an important part of Australia's literary heritage.