Dame Joy Cowley says her children's book The Ha Ha Powder doesn't refer to drugs

March 17, 2018

Dame Joy is one of New Zealand's most loved children's authors.

Children's author Dame Joy Cowley says her book featuring a clown who drops laughing powder is not about drugs, after this was suggested in a social media frenzy over the story.

Dame Joy's 1987 classic The Ha Ha Powder is about a clown who drops a bag of "ha ha powder" which makes people laugh.

TVNZ1's Seven Sharp reported the book has sent social media into a frenzy, with many suggesting it's referencing drugs.

A person reported on social media that a six-year-old had the book for homework. Parents then reacted and one suggested the book should be banned, while others defended it and said the critics were being politically correct.

One of New Zealand's most beloved children's authors, Dame Joy told Seven Sharp The Ha Ha Powder was written in a much simpler time before drugs were a big problem, and before it would be interpreted in such a sinister manner.

The programme reported on other books which have, over time, become less appropriate.

Puff the Magic Dragon is one. The 1963 song of the same name is apparently not about smoking marijuana, as was claimed after its release. The lyrics ran, "Little Jackie Paper, loved that rascal Puff."

Master Mates and Pirate Willy were characters in Captain Pugwash. It turned out it was an urban myth that the books featured characters called Roger the Cabinboy and Seaman Staines. This upset the author who sued two British newspapers for libel damages.

Another book title to ponder is Pooh Gets Stuck. Seven Sharp said the book title was unfortunate, "but when you're Winnie the Pooh and you've eaten too much honey you're bound to get stuck in a doorway, as he did in that book".

In The Muffin Muncher, a poor village, surviving only by the sale of delicious home-baked muffins to the king, comes up against a muffin-munching dragon.

Seven Sharp wondered what was wrong with that.

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