A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. 2017. Possum Magic. Ill. by Julie Vivas. Australia: Omnibus Books. ISBN 1862910952.
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Possum Magic is a picture book that centers around two possum characters - Hush and Grandma Poss. In order to protect Hush from snakes and other dangers, Grandma Poss uses her possum magic to turn her invisible. But one day, Hush decides that she wants to see what she looks like, so she asks Grandma Poss to make her visible once more. Grandma Poss reads through her magic books, but cannot remember the magic spell to turn Hush visible once more. She does remember, however, that it has something to do with human food, so they set off on an adventure to find what they are looking for.
Hush and Grandma Poss travel all over Australia looking for the magic indredient that will help make Hush able to be seen again. They eat Anzac biscuits in Adelaide, mornay and minties in Melbourne, steak and salad in Sydney, and pumpkin scones in Brisbane. Despite trying all of these different foods, Hush was still invisible, so her and Grandma Hush kept searching for their missing ingredient.
After traveling to the northern regions of Australia, the two explorers finally find what they have been in search of for so long: a vegemite sandwich. They continue on to Perth, where they find and eat a piece of Pavlova. With each new piece of food, a different part of Hush's body comes into view. Hush and Grandma Poss continue on to Tasmania, where they both eat some Lamingtons. After this, all of Hush's body is able to be seen, and the two celebrate. Now, each year, Hush and Grandma Poss eat all of these foods, just to make sure that she never turns invisible again.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This was such a neat read for a variety of reasons. I know very little about Australia and their customs and traditions, but this book exposed me to new areas and new foods that I had never even heard of. I had heard of vegemite before, and seeing it included as one of the magic ingredients was really cool. After finishing the reading, I had to do a bit of research to find out what some of these different foods were. It's amazing how much adults can still learn about different parts of the world through children's literature.
The language used by Mem Fox throughout created a fun rhythm, and the rhyming will surely be something that is enjoyed by anyone with the opportunity to listen to this as part of a read aloud. The sound devices and alliteration with many of the places and foods they ate was a nice touch as well.
The illustrations by Julie Vivas did a wonderful job of catching the reader's eye, and the attention to detail, specifically with all of the different food items and the specific landmarks for the various locations, made me truly understand how vast and unique the different parts of Australia are. The pictures of the different animals will also surely grab the attention of younger readers. Each of the characters looked so unique, and their different expressions really brought them to life; it made me want to visit this part of the world. The scenes where Hush is either fully or partially invisible are so interesting, and seeing her and Grandma Poss' faces as she turned back visible once again definitely put a smile on my face. I think as an American, I have a very limited view of what Australia is like. Books like Possum Kingdom allow for a fun trip around the continent for those from the area, but more than anything, it allows outsiders a chance to immerse themselves in various aspects of the culture.
A book such as this one can be really eye-opening for children, especially when introducing a unit on Australia or different parts of the world. I know multicultural literature aims at eventually moving beyond simply talking about different foods that make up a culture, but this book would be a great conversation starter when researching or learning about Australia. Having students find all of the locations on a map or explore recipes for the different foods mentioned throughout could be an interesting extension activity as well.
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for young people's literature (1984)
Canberra's Own Outstanding List: Picture Book Award (1994)
“Another treat from Mem Fox that is sure to be treasured. The whimsical illustrations are a wonderful complement.”-- Children’s Book Review
"Vivas' watercolour illustrations are soft and dreamy. She makes the Australian animals adorable with many of them seeming cuddly." -- Kid's Book Review
E. CONNECTIONS
Readers who enjoyed this book may also like:
Fox, Mem. Koala Lu. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. ISBN 044084651X.
Fox, Mem. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. Ill. by Julie Vivas. ISBN 0613511972.
Knowles, Sheena. Edward the Emu. Ill. by Rod Clement. ISBN 0064434990.
French, Jackie. Diary of a Wombat. Ill. by Bruce Whatley. ISBN 054707669X.
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