''Possum Magic'' is a 1983
Children's picture book by Australian author
Mem Fox
Merrion Frances "Mem" Fox, AM (born Merrion Frances Partridge; 5 March 1946) is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and ...
, and illustrated by Julie Vivas. It concerns a young female
possum, named Hush, who becomes
invisible
Invisibility is the state of an object that cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be ''invisible'' (literally, "not visible"). The phenomenon is studied by physics and perceptual psychology.
Since objects can be seen by light in ...
and has a number of adventures. In 2001, a film was made by the American company
Weston Woods
Weston Woods Studios (or simply Weston Woods) is a production company that makes audio and short films based on well-known books for children.
It was founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel in Weston, Connecticut, and named after the wooded area near h ...
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
Scholastic Corporation () is an American multinational publishing, education, and media company that publishes and distributes books, comics, and educational materials for schools, parents, and children. Products are distributed via retail and on ...
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.
Reviews of ''Possum Magic'' have generally been positive. ''
The Canberra Times
''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times.
History
''The Canberra Times'' was launched in ...
'' called it "a wonderful story, a proper quest amid familiar surroundings,...". ''
Booklist
''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...
'' 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". ''Possum Magic'' has also been reviewed by ''
Meanjin
''Meanjin'' (), formerly ''Meanjin Papers'' and ''Meanjin Quarterly'', is an Australian literary magazine. The name is derived from the Turrbal word for the spike of land where the city of Brisbane is located. It was founded in 1940 in Brisbane ...
'', ''
School Library Journal
''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...
'', and ''
Horn Book Guides''
In 2014 it topped the
Australian Booksellers Association list of 50 Favourite Kids’ Books.
It is Australia's best selling children's book with almost 5 million sales (as at 2017),
and has continually appeared on best seller lists.
In 2017, the
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is the sole producer of all of Australia's circulating coins and is a Commonwealth Government entity operating within the portfolio of the Treasury. The Mint is situated in the Australian federal capital city of Canberr ...
struck a series of
$1 and
$2 coins to commemorate the book.
In 2021, researchers from
Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a public university in Western Australia. It is named in honour of the first woman to be elected to an Australian parliament, Edith Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman. Gaining unive ...
were critical of teachers over-relying on titles such as ''Possum Magic'' in the classroom because classic stories were not culturally diverse.
Despite finding ''Possum Magic'' included one illustration of a
person of colour
The term "person of color" ( : people of color or persons of color; abbreviated POC) is primarily used to describe any person who is not considered "white". In its current meaning, the term originated in, and is primarily associated with, the U ...
, 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.
[ 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''.][ The research was criticised by several media commentators.
]
Awards
* 2009 BILBY Award shortlist[
* 2006 ]KROC
Kroc is a surname. Notable people with the name include:
* Janae Kroc (born 1972), bodybuilder and powerlifter
* Joan Kroc (1929–2003), American philanthropist
* Ray Kroc
Raymond Albert Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984) was an ...
Award
* 2004 Young Australians Best Book Awards (YABBA) Hall of Fame member
* 1994 Canberra's Own Outstanding List (COOL) Picture Book Award winner
Adaptations
A stage show adaptation was developed by Monkey Baa Theatre Company and toured Australia in 2019. 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".
References
External links
Author's official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Possum Magic
Picture books by Mem Fox
1983 children's books
COOL Award-winning works
Australian children's books
Omnibus Books books