Possum Magic Explained

Possum Magic
Author:Mem Fox
Illustrator:Julie Vivas
Cover Artist:Julie Vivas
Country:Australia
Language:English
Genre:Children's picture book
Publisher:Omnibus Books
Pub Date:1983
Pages:32 (unpaginated)
Isbn:978-01-5200-572-6

Possum Magic is a 1983 children's picture book by Australian author Mem Fox, and illustrated by Julie Vivas. It concerns a young female possum, named Hush, who becomes invisible and has a number of adventures. In 2001, a film was made by the American company Weston Woods and narrated by the author.

Plot

The two main characters are Grandma Poss and Hush. Hush has been made invisible by Grandma to protect her from Australian bush dangers. The story details the duo's adventures as they tour Australia searching for the secret to Hush's visibility. It is a rhythmical story of Australia's varied landscapes and the animals in them.

Development history

Fox wrote her first draft for Possum Magic in 1978, during a course in children's literature at Flinders University. Over five years, nine publishers rejected the draft. When it was accepted by Omnibus Books in Adelaide they asked Fox to reduce the book, then titled Hush the Invisible Mouse, by two-thirds (the original text ran four and a half pages without illustrations) and to change the mice to Australian animals to place emphasis on her Australian theme.

Reception

Possum Magic is considered a classic in Australian children's literature.[1] [2]

Reviews of Possum Magic have generally been positive. The Canberra Times called it "a wonderful story, a proper quest amid familiar surroundings,...".[3] Booklist wrote: "This agreeable tale from down under is peppered with Australia-isms, but there is a zest to the story that transcends the language barrier".[4] Possum Magic has also been reviewed by Meanjin,[5] School Library Journal,[6] and Horn Book Guides[7]

In 2014 it topped the Australian Booksellers Association list of 50 Favourite Kids’ Books.[8]

It is Australia's best selling children's book with almost 5 million sales (as at 2017),[9] and has continually appeared on best seller lists.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

In 2017, the Royal Australian Mint struck a series of $1 and $2 coins to commemorate the book.[15]

In 2021, researchers from Edith Cowan University were critical of teachers over-relying on titles such as Possum Magic in the classroom because classic stories were not culturally diverse.[16] [17] Despite finding Possum Magic included one illustration of a person of colour, the researchers expressed concern about books that featured animal characters, stating that stories about animals decreased the likelihood of children from minority backgrounds seeing characters representative of themselves.[16] [18] The researchers recommended teachers use more contemporary texts which better represent a culturally diverse society, in addition to existing classic titles such as Possum Magic.[16] The research was criticised by several media commentators.[19] [20]

Awards

Adaptations

A stage show adaptation was developed by Monkey Baa Theatre Company and toured Australia in 2019.[29] [30] The adaptation was given a positive review by Judith Greenaway for ArtsHub Australia, who called it "detailed and beautiful and respectful of the original work".[31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stories in the sun . Maria Savvidis . The trend for popularising (and personifying) the country’s native animals saw the creation of such classics as .. Mem Fox and Julie Vivas’ Possum Magic (1983), . sl.nsw.gov.au . State Library of NSW . 2 September 2021.
  2. Web site: 10 Classic Australian Children's Books . Beata Bowes . 25 January 2018 . victorianopera.com.au . 2 September 2021.
  3. News: . The best in children's books illustrated . Susan Nicholls . 8 . 29 May 1983 . 2 September 2021 . scan . Trove.
  4. Possum Magic . Booklist . American Library Association. 2 September 2021.
  5. 2018 . Australia in Three Books . Eliza Berlage . Meanjin . Melbourne University Publishing . 77 . 4 . 15–17 . 0025-6293. 2 September 2021.
  6. Possum Magic . Jeanette Larson . A perfect choice for storytimes, but also useful for curriculum enrichment, thanks to a simplified map and glossary. . School Library Journal . Media Source Inc. . 2 September 2021.
  7. Possum Magic . one enchanting book. . Horn Book Guides . Media Source Inc. . 2 September 2021.
  8. News: Deborah Bogle . 8 August 2014 . Australia's 50 favourite children's books — words of magic to brighten kids' lives . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 2 September 2021.
  9. Web site: Nan Chauncy Award 2017 . Admin . 29 August 2017 . readingtime.com.au . Children's Book Council of Australia . 2 September 2021.
  10. News: . The month's best-sellers . 27 . 1 August 1984 . 2 September 2021 . scan . Trove.
  11. News: . Months' bestsellers . 28 . 3 December 1986 . 2 September 2021 . scan . Trove.
  12. Web site: 'The 65-Storey Treehouse' tops Australian children's bestsellers charts . 26 September 2016 . booksandpublishing.com.au . Books+Publishing . 2 September 2021.
  13. Web site: 'Where is the Green Sheep?' tops bestsellers chart . 21 June 2018 . booksandpublishing.com.au . Books+Publishing . 2 September 2021.
  14. Web site: 'Definitely Do Not Open This Book' tops Australian picture book bestsellers chart . 17 October 2019 . booksandpublishing.com.au . Books+Publishing . 2 September 2021.
  15. Web site: Discover the wonder of Possum Magic with limited edition collector coin series. Royal Australian Mint. 14 September 2017.
  16. Adam. Helen. Hays. Anne-Maree. Urquhart. Yvonne. 2021. The Exclusive White World of Preservice Teachers' Book Selection for the Classroom: Influences and Implications for Practice. The Australian Journal of Teacher Education. 46. 8. 10.14221/ajte.2021v46n8.4. 7 June 2022. free.
  17. News: O'Brien. Susie. Hodge. Regan. 29 May 2022. Popular children books deemed not culturally diverse enough. Herald Sun. 7 June 2022.
  18. News: Goodall. Hamish. 2 June 2022. Australian researcher claims children's book are not diverse enough. 7 News. 7 June 2022.
  19. News: Molan. Erin. Erin Molan. 3 June 2022. Erin Molan: Storm over classic kids’ books is diversity gone mad. The Daily Telegraph. 7 June 2022.
  20. News: Richards. Kel. Kel Richards. 1 June 2022. Kel Richards: Beloved children's classics are being sacrificed at the altar of politically correct wokery. Sky News Australia. 7 June 2022.
  21. Web site: YABBA Hall of Fame . yabba.org.au . Young Australians Best Book Awards Council . 2 September 2021.
  22. Web site: Possum Magic . austlit.edu.au . AustLit . 2 September 2021.
  23. News: . Schoolchildren judge two authors as the most cool . Leanne Mason . 37 . 27 October 1991 . 2 September 2021 . scan . Trove.
  24. Book: CCBC Choices . Picture Books . 40 . Kathleen T. Horning . Ginny Moore Kruse . Merri Lindgren . 1991 . Cooperative Children's Book Center . 2 September 2021.
  25. Web site: Complete List of KOALA Winners . static1.squarespace.com . KOALA . 2 September 2021.
  26. Book: IBBY Australia Honour Books List 1962-2018. 17 . Justine Power . 2018 . IBBY Australia . 978-0-646-99553-3.
  27. News: The Canberra Times . Short lists for children's books . Peter Fuller . 28 . 14 March 1984 . 2 September 2021 . scan . Trove.
  28. News: The Canberra Times . Children's awards: Theme of book 'transcends age' . 8 . 21 July 1984 . 2 September 2021 . scan . Trove.
  29. Web site: Possum Magic Monkey Baa Theatre Company, Darling Quarter. Monkey Baa. en-AU. 2019-07-10.
  30. Web site: Possum Magic stage show to tour the country. 2019-04-15. Radio National. en-AU. 2019-07-10.
  31. Web site: Review: Possum Magic, Sydney Opera House. Greenaway. Judith. ArtsHub Australia. en-au. 2019-07-10.

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