The Magic Pudding facts for kids
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Frontispiece for first edition
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| Author | Norman Lindsay |
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| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel, Picaresque novel |
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Publication date
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1918 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 171 |
The Magic Pudding: Being The Adventures of Bunyip Bluegum and his friends Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff is a famous Australian children's book. It was written and illustrated by Norman Lindsay. This book is a funny fantasy story and a true classic in Australian kids' literature.
The story takes place in Australia. It features both humans and talking animals. The main star is a special magic pudding. No matter how much you eat it, it always comes back whole again! Three friends own this amazing pudding. They have to protect it from sneaky Pudding Thieves who want it for themselves.
The book is split into four "slices" instead of regular chapters. You'll find many short songs throughout the story. These songs tell little tales, describe how a character feels, or are parts of a long sea song.
Contents
The Magic Pudding Story
Bunyip Bluegum the koala decides to leave his uncle and see the world. He sets off with just a walking stick. Around lunchtime, feeling very hungry, he meets Bill Barnacle the sailor and Sam Sawnoff the penguin. They are busy eating a pudding.
This pudding is truly magical. It's called Albert. No matter how much you eat, it always reforms into a whole pudding again. Albert has thin arms and legs. He's also quite grumpy and has bad manners! But his only joy is being eaten. Bill and Sam invite Bunyip to join them for lunch.
They all start traveling together. Bill explains how he and Sam were shipwrecked with a ship's cook. They were on an iceberg when the cook created the pudding they now own.
Meeting the Pudding Thieves
Later, they meet the Pudding Thieves. These are a possum named Patrick and a wombat named Watkin. Bill and Sam bravely protect their pudding. Bunyip sits on Albert so he can't run away. That night, Bill and Sam invite Bunyip to join their "Noble Society of Pudding Owners." They are thankful for his help.
The next day, the Pudding Thieves use a clever trick. They manage to steal the Pudding! Bill and Sam are very upset and lose hope. It's up to Bunyip to cheer them up. He gets them ready to go rescue their Pudding.
As they track the thieves, they meet some strange characters. But they eventually find the Pudding Thieves' secret hideout. Bunyip's smart plan traps the robbers. Then Bill and Sam use their fists to get their pudding back.
Another Pudding Theft
Some time later, the Pudding Thieves approach the three Pudding Owners again. They say they have gifts and ask the owners to look inside a bag. When the Pudding Owners do, the thieves pull the bag over their heads! They tie it up, leaving the owners helpless. The thieves grab the pudding and run off.
An old dog named Benjamin Brandysnap comes along. He is a market gardener. He frees the Pudding Owners. The bag had been stolen from his stable. So, Benjamin joins the Pudding Owners to get revenge on the thieves. Bunyip comes up with another clever plan. It lures the thieves into another trap. The thieves get another beating, and the Pudding is returned.
Courtroom Chaos
The next day, the travelers arrive in the quiet town of Tooraloo. Men in suits and top hats approach them. They claim to be the real owners of the Pudding. It turns out to be the Pudding Thieves trying to steal it again! A big fight breaks out. The Mayor and the scared local Constable arrive.
During the argument, the grumpy Pudding pinches the Mayor. The Mayor then orders Albert's arrest! The Pudding is taken to court. The only officials there are the judge and the usher. They are playing cards and would rather eat the defendant than hear the case.
To solve things, Bunyip suggests they hear the case themselves. Bill becomes the prosecutor. The Pudding Thieves are accused of trying to steal the Pudding. They are also charged with stealing Benjamin Brandysnap's bag. The Mayor and the Constable act as the "12 good men and true." They agree that this strange court is "better than a punch on the snout."
However, the court proceedings quickly turn into total chaos. When things are at their wildest, Bunyip suddenly announces that the Pudding has been poisoned! The judge, who has been eating the Pudding, goes crazy. He attacks the usher, the Pudding Thieves, the Mayor, and the Constable with a bottle of port.
In reality, Albert was never poisoned. The Pudding Owners use the confusion to quickly escape. They then decide it's best to settle down somewhere. They build a house in a tree in Benjamin's garden. There, they live a life of ease and enjoy their magic pudding.
Main Characters in The Magic Pudding
- Bunyip Bluegum: A clever and skilled young koala.
- Albert: The grumpy but magical pudding.
- Bill Barnacle: A brave sailor and pudding owner.
- Sam Sawnoff: A loyal penguin and shipmate of Bill.
- Patrick: A sneaky possum and one of the pudding thieves.
- Watkin: A tricky wombat and one of the pudding thieves.
- Benjamin Brandysnap: An elderly, helpful dog who is a market gardener.
- Wattleberry: Bunyip Bluegum's uncle.
- Henrietta Hedgehog: A character mentioned in the story.
Book Illustrations
Norman Lindsay, a famous artist, drew all the pictures for the book himself. He also designed the cover. You can see the original drawings at the State Library of New South Wales.
There's also a sculpture called "The Magic Pudding" by Louis Laumen. It's based on Lindsay's drawings. This sculpture is the main feature of the Ian Potter Children's Garden. This garden is located in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.
The Magic Pudding Adaptations
Puppet Show
In 1960, Peter Scriven turned the book into a puppet show. Norman Lindsay even made 40 drawings for it! Scriven's Marionette Theatre of Australia performed this puppet show all over Australia until 1988.
Animated Film
An animated movie based on the book came out in 2000. Famous actors lent their voices: John Cleese was Albert the pudding, Hugo Weaving was Bill, Geoffrey Rush was Bunyip, and Sam Neill was Sam. The movie changed a lot from Lindsay's book. It got mixed reviews and didn't make much money.
Stage Play
In 2010, Marian Street Theatre for Young People in Killara, NSW, put on a stage version. Adapted by Andrew James, this was the first time most characters were played by actors, not puppets.
Opera
In 2013, Victorian Opera presented The Magic Pudding - The Opera. Calvin Bowman wrote the music. Anna Goldsworthy adapted the story from Lindsay's book for the words.
Book Honours
In 1985, Australia Post released a postage stamp showing a picture from the book. It was part of a set of five stamps celebrating children's books.
