1. BIBLIOGRAPHY2. PLOT SUMMARY
Grandma Poss uses bush magic to make little Hush invisible in order to protect her from snakes. But one day, Hush wants to know what she looks like, so she asks Grandma Poss to make her visible again. Unfortunately, Grandma Poss cannot remember how to reverse the spell and she cannot find it in her spell books. She thinks the key might be in people food, so she and Hush take off on a trip across Australia eating delicious foods and bringing Hush back to visibility one little piece at a time.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
American readers will find it is immediately apparent from page one of Mem Fox’s Possum Magic that we are not in Kansas anymore. The pages are full of rich Australian detail from the animal characters (possums, wombats, kookaburras, dingoes, and emus), to the food (Anzac biscuits, mornay, Vegemite sandwiches, pavlova, and lamington), to the geographical locations (Adelaide, Melbourne, Darwin, Perth, and Tasmania). And then, of course, there’s the bush magic. The characters and landscape are authentic, and the simple map and glossary at the back of the book will help American readers get a feel for where Hush goes and what she eats in her quest to become visible.
The story is well-told; however, rhyming that occurs on the second page, and then later on an additional page, may confuse the reader who expects the story to rhyme throughout. (I had to start reading over when I thought I had missed the rhyme scheme on the third and subsequent pages). Having the text go in and out of rhyme interrupts the flow of the reading, especially the first time through. Once it is squared away that the book in general is NOT a rhyming text, the reading is easier.
Julie Vivas’s illustrations, many which are full two-page spreads, are watercolor paintings that are simply beautiful. Realistic enough to know what the various animals really look like and what they do, they are also sweet enough to convey the personalities of the characters in ways that will make older readers ooh and ahh in appreciation of their adorable expressions. Vivas does a nice job of portraying little Hush during her invisible days, as well. And the snake will stop readers in their tracks in his terrifying splendor. Showers of stars representing Grandma Poss’s magic are magical in themselves.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*Children’s Literature: “The book provides a warm, wonderful first exploration of Australia!”
*The Horn Book: “One enchanting book.”
*Children’s Book Review Service: Another treat from Mem Fox that is sure to be treasured.”
*Aussie Reviews: “This gorgeous story is sure to be a favourite with both children and parents because of its flowing, up-beat rhythm and cute ending. The detailed illustrations by Tony Oliver [sic] make a perfect complement to the text.”
*School Library Journal: “Although the characters, locales, and vocabulary are thoroughly Australian, Possum Magic has universal appeal. Fox chooses her words carefully, making readers believe that certain foods just might be magical. Vivas uses a variety of techniques, including splatter painting and washes to create full- and double-page watercolor illustrations which complement the text and will entrance readers. A perfect choice for storytimes, but also useful for curriculum enrichment, thanks to a simplified map and glossary.”
5. CONNECTIONS
• Choose an Australian animal or food to research.
• Research the concept of “bush magic” – what it is, who does it, how it works, is it real, etc.
• Use the stars as models for creating watercolor paintings.
• Create a map and glossary of your own neighborhood similar to the ones in the book, highlighting foods and places that might be particular to your area of the state or country.
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