AustLit
Latest Issues
AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Adaptations
- Possum Magic : The Musical 1990 single work musical theatre
-
Possum Magic
2019
single work
drama
'Grandma Poss loves making magic. She makes wombats blue and kookaburras pink. She makes dingoes smile and emus shrink. But one day, when danger arrives in the form of a snake, Grandma uses her most magical spell to make Hush invisible. Hush has many wonderful adventures. But being invisible isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…'
Source: Merrigong Theatre Company.
Notes
-
Several Possum Magic non-book items have been produced, including height chart, calendar, wall frieze, wrapping paper and cards, as well as a birthday book, address book and cookery book.
-
Also published in braille and sound recording formats.
-
Orchestral version of Possum Magic performed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, [1996].
-
Number 6 on the Better Reading's 2022 Top 50 Kids Books
Number 2 on the Better Reading's Top 50 Kids Books 2023
Affiliation Notes
-
This work is affiliated with the AustLit subset Asian-Australian Children's Literature and Publishing because it has Korean, Chinese, and Japanese translations.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Sound recording.
Works about this Work
-
The Picture of Privilege : Examining the Lack of Diverse Characters in 2018 Australian Children’s Picture Books
2022
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Jeunesse : Young People, Texts, Culture , June vol. 14 no. 1 2022; (p. 65-83)'This article explores the findings from the first “diversity count” of Australian children’s picture books, conducted in 2019 in partnership with advocacy group Voices from the Intersection (VFTI). Specifically, this article explores the eighty-three percent of 2018 Australian children’s picture books that did not feature a marginalized protagonist: namely, those that featured human characters who could not be identified as marginalized in any way, animals, and inhuman protagonists. We propose that the Australian publishing industry, rather than suffering from a “diversity deficit,” instead overrepresents a narrow demographic of human experiences and non-human protagonists. We suggest that the oversaturation of the local children’s picture book market with such similar stories disadvantages all children, who are denied a rich and diverse reading experience, as well as the opportunity to see themselves and their peers depicted. This article provides greater insight into the current debates about diversity and inclusion in children’s media.'(Publication abstract)
-
Does Your Child Know More about Dinosaurs Than Dugongs? Perhaps They’re Reading the Wrong Books
2020
single work
column
— Appears in: The Conversation , 4 March 2020;'Identifying the difference between a native burrowing frog and an introduced cane toad is fundamental ecological knowledge. After bushfires ravaged Australia’s animal and plant communities and razed millions of hectares of land, such knowledge has never been more important.' (Introduction)
-
Australia in Three Books
2018
single work
column
— Appears in: Meanjin , Summer vol. 77 no. 4 2018; (p. 15-17) -
Arthur or Martha? Kids Face a Struggle
2016
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sunday Mail , 4 September 2016; (p. 61) -
It's Their Turn : Best Books to Animate Teens
2015
single work
column
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 7 February 2015; (p. 30)
-
[Review] Possum Magic
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Books Buzz , July no. 4 2008; (p. 11-12)
— Review of Possum Magic 1983 single work picture book -
Book Week Winners
1984
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 July 1984;
— Review of Possum Magic 1983 single work picture book -
Untitled
1984
single work
review
— Appears in: Review (South Australia. School Libraries Branch) , September vol. 12 no. 3 1984; (p. 21)
— Review of Possum Magic 1983 single work picture book -
Untitled
1984
single work
review
— Appears in: Family Circle , 10 August 1984;
— Review of Possum Magic 1983 single work picture book -
Untitled
1990
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 12 July 1990; (p. 14.,)
— Review of Possum Magic 1983 single work picture book -
Kids Deity
1996
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 April 1996; (p. 10) -
The Gift of Reading
2003
single work
column
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 6 December 2003; (p. 7) -
21 Years of Possum Magic
2004
single work
column
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 20 March 2004; (p. 2-3) -
Two of Us : Mem Fox and Julie Vivas
2004
single work
column
— Appears in: Good Weekend , 20 March 2004; (p. 14) -
Possum Hush Turns 21, With a Litle Magic
2004
single work
column
— Appears in: The Age , 27 March 2004; (p. 6)
Awards
- 2009 shortlisted BILBY (Books I Love Best Yearly) Awards
- 2004 YABBA — Hall of Fame
- 1994 winner COOL Award — Fiction for Younger Readers
- 1987 winner KOALA Awards — Infants/Primary
- 1986 IBBY Honour Diploma — Illustration For Julie Vivas's illustrations.
-
cAustralia,c