Possum Magic

Fox, Mem. 1983. Possum magic. Ill. by Julie Vivas. San Diego: Gulliver Books. ISBN 0152005722

Plot Summary

Grandma Poss used bush magic to turn Hush invisible and keep her safe from snakes. Hush wants to be visible again, but Grandma Poss forgot which special food, people food, Hush will need to eat to break the spell. The two possums leave the bush to visit the cities, traveling all around Australia, in search of the special food that will turn Hush visible. Finally, after sampling the local cuisines of several different cities, the possums find the foods that break the spell.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)
This is a simple, sweet, story of a grandma possum determined to help her granddaughter. First she makes her invisible to keep her safe, then she travels all around Australia in search of the magic that will make her granddaughter visible again. Vivas’ illustrations of the Australian animals in the bush, and Grandma Poss and Hush’s adventures in the cities are colorful and whimsical. The magical foods that the possums try are distinctly Australian. A glossary at the end of the book provides a description of these foods. 

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “Although the characters, locales, and vocabulary are thoroughly Australian, Possum Magic has universal appeal.”

Connections

Other books by Mem Fox, many with Australian or multicultural themes:

Fox, Mem. 1989. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. Ill. by Julie Vivas. Kane Miller Book Pub. ISBN 091629126X

Fox, Mem. 1994. Koala Lou. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. Sandpiper. ISBN 9780152000769

Fox, Mem. 2003. Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!. Ill. by Marla Frazee. Sandpiper. ISBN 0152045988

Fox, Mem. 2006. Whoever You Are. Ill. by Leslie Staub. Sandpiper. ISBN 9780152060305

Fox, Mem. 2008. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. Ill. by Helen Oxenbury. Harcourt Children's Books. ISBN 015206057X