Possum Magic facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Mem Fox |
|---|---|
| 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 very popular children's picture book. It was written by Australian author Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas. The book was first published in 1983. It has become one of Australia's most loved children's stories.
Contents
The Story of Possum Magic
The book features two main characters: Grandma Poss and Hush. Hush is a young possum who has been made invisible by her Grandma Poss. Grandma Poss used her special magic to protect Hush from dangers in the Australian bush.
The story follows Grandma Poss and Hush on an exciting adventure. They travel all over Australia. Their goal is to find the secret to making Hush visible again. Their journey takes them through many different Australian landscapes. They also meet various Australian animals along the way. The story uses a fun, rhyming style.
How the Book Was Made
Mem Fox wrote the first version of Possum Magic in 1978. She was taking a class about children's literature at Flinders University at the time.
It took five years for the book to be published. Nine different publishers said no to the story. Finally, Omnibus Books in Adelaide accepted it. They asked Mem Fox to make some changes. The original story was much longer. It was also called Hush the Invisible Mouse. The publisher asked her to make the book shorter. They also wanted her to change the mice characters into Australian animals. This helped to highlight the Australian theme of the book.
Possum Magic has been very successful. By 2011, over three million copies of the book had been sold.
Special Coins for the Book
In 2017, the Royal Australian Mint created special coins. They made $1 and $2 coins to celebrate Possum Magic. These coins honored the book's lasting popularity.
Stage Show Adaptation
Possum Magic has also been turned into a stage show. The Monkey Baa Theatre Company developed this adaptation. The show toured Australia in 2019. Critics gave the stage show good reviews. Judith Greenaway from ArtsHub Australia said it was "detailed and beautiful". She also noted that it respected the original book.
Awards and Recognition
Possum Magic has won several awards. These awards recognize its importance and popularity in children's literature.
- 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)
