Possum Magic facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Mem Fox |
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| Illustrator | Julie Vivas |
| Cover artist | Julie Vivas |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Omnibus Books |
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Publication date
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1983 |
| Pages | 32 (unpaginated) |
| ISBN | 978-0-15-200572-6 |
Possum Magic is a picture book by Australian author Mem Fox.
Contents
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.
Publication
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 four-and-a-half page book, then titled Hush the Invisible Mouse, by two-thirds and to change the mice to Australian animals to place emphasis on her Australian theme. As of 2011, Possum Magic sold three million copies.
In 2017, the Royal Australian Mint struck a series of $1 and $2 coins to commemorate the book.
Adaptation
A stage show adaptation was developed by Monkey Baa Theatre Company and is touring 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".
Awards
- 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)
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