3. Possum Magic ~ A week of reading activities to accompany the story. But Grandma Poss is no ordinary possum; she can do bush magic! Written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas, Published September 15th 1991 by Sandpiper. Ratings & Reviews. Get inspiring story suggestions and related resources straight to your inbox. Hush has been made invisible by Grandma to protect her from Australian bush dangers. She is Australia’s best loved picture-book author. Vivas’ watercolours complement the story beautifully. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. But one day Hush wants to know what she looks like and asks Grandma Poss to make her visible again. But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums t It is also helpful for kids learning to read as it is a simple story without too many diversions and it has a rhythm to it which I understand helps kids get used to reading. 4. Over five years, nine publishers rejected the draft. Pre-Reading Words - a list of story words. The Book almost covers every part of Australian Identity you can think of! A Reader’s Theatre script. As child I enjoyed the quirky story line and it defiantly stimulated my learning and interest in Australian culture. ♥ Possum Magic, by Mem Fox, is a much loved, iconic Australian children’s story which tells the story of Hush and Grandma Poss. The two main characters are Grandma Poss and Hush. Australian Cities / States An example can be found … Many generations have shared this magical story, celebrating the love of Grandma Poss and her baby Hush. It is a rhythmical story of Australia's varied landscapes and the animals in them. New to Australia? Hush is made invisible by Grandma Poss to protect her from dangers in the Australian bush. [3][4] 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". Grandma Poss uses her magic to turn Hush invisible so that she will be safe from the scary predators that live in the bush. It is also rhythmic and repetitive in some parts, allowing the reader to gather a sense of story and make predictions. Possum Magic was one of my favourite books growing up as a kid. Grandma works her magic so Hush is invisible, which allows the little possum to do lots of fun things (like slide down kangaroos' backs) and also stay hidden from snakes (which is why Grandma worked the magic in the first place!) Narrator1: Once upon a time, but not very long ago deep in the Australian bush lived two possums. So begins the story … ( Log Out /  Possum Magic is a classic Australian picture book that most kids can say they read as a child. The book follows the story of two Possums, Grandma Poss and Hush. what happens in the story of possum magic Grandma Poss uses bush magic to make a child possum (Hush) invisible so that Hush won’t be eaten by snakes. The simple illustrations depict the scenes and characters of outback Australia with brilliant accuracy. Apologies to Ms Scott if the liberties I have taken with her story offend. Explore more than 1,207 'Possum Magic' resources for teachers, parents and pupils as well as related resources on 'Possum' When it was accepted by Omnibus Books in Adelaide they asked Fox to reduce the book, then titled Hush the Invisible Mouse, by two-thirds (the original text ran four and a half pages without illustrations) and to change the mice to Australian animals to place emphasis on her Australian theme. Scholastic.com.au (Hunter, 2004) suggest this book be targeted at children in foundation to grade 2, … It has amazing illustrations of the wildlife and it makes strong connections with each State or Territory. As of 2011, Possum Magic sold three million copies. A sparkling story steeped in Australian "magic" about Grandma Poss and little Hush, two possums from the country. (Australian possums are very soft and cute.) Grandma Poss is no ordinary Possum as she can perform ‘bush magic’, allowing her to turn Kookaburras pink, Wombats blue etc… Apart from turning animals different colours, Grandma Poss uses her Bush Magic to turn Hush (the other Possum) invisible! WRITING A RETELL OF POSSUM MAGIC (Throughout retell make a list of action verbs, words that express attitude and feeling and keep them up around the room.) Possum magic uses many verbs and also focuses on opposites. Students put them into order and write a … When it was accepted by Omnibus Books in Adelaide they asked Fox to reduce the book, then titled Hush the Invisible Mouse, by two-thirds (the original text ran four and a half pages without illustrations) and to change the mice to Australian animals to place emphasis on her Australian theme. I enjoyed the book in its entirety and used to love the part when hush first becomes invisible. In POSSUM MAGIC, Australia truly seems like a mysterious, far away land. 2. Grandma Poss is no ordinary Possum as she can perform ‘bush magic’, allowing her to turn Kookaburras pink, Wombats blue etc… Apart from turning … The Native animals Possum, Wombat, Kookaburras, Dingo, Emu, Koala, Kangaroo, An echidna (not mentioned in the story but illustrated), Snake. But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums must make their way across Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible once more. Possum Magic, the classic story of Hush and Grandma Poss, is presented together for the first time with a CD recording of Mem Fox telling the story. (I’m going to put aside the fact that snakes seem to ‘see’ via vibrations, so an invisibility superpower wouldn’t necessarily protect her…) The purpose is evidently a fun and ‘magical’ way to explore Australia and all of its contents. Fox wrote her first draft for Possum Magic in 1978, during a course in children's literature at Flinders University. But one day, Hush decides she wants to be visible. On its first publication in 1983, Possum Magic was an instant success, and has been voted by booksellers as Australia's best-selling children's picture book. [1], In 2017, the Royal Australian Mint struck a series of $1 and $2 coins to commemorate the book. The Store, The Store, possum magic Free download or read online Possum Magic pdf (ePUB) book. Almost every symbolic Australian symbol is used in the story which I have listed above. Cut out two sets of ears from your poster board and paint them. Join us for a story time reading of "Possum Magic" by Mem Fox! 2. Possum Magic. To make the ears 3-D, make a small snip in the bottom of the ear, fold the two flaps over one another and glue or tape in place. After oral retell: Give students images fPossum Magic. Grandma Poss searches her magic books and tries desperately to remember how to reverse the invisibility spell, though unfortunately to no avail. It has been gifted to children all over the world due to the inclusion of Australia's unique animals, Australian cities and food. Change ). ( Log Out /  As the characters’ travel around the country they eat some amazing Australian food. The book was published early in 1983. STORY OF POSSUM MAGIC HISTORY For more than 30 years, Mem Fox’s Possum Magic has captivated and enchanted young people all over Australia. By Rantan (With apologies to Mem Fox for the liberties taken with the classic tale.) The main characters of this childrens, picture books story are , . Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas was first published in 1983 and became an instant Australian favourite. There have been many “Possum Magic” products over the years including height charts, birthday books, calendars, address books, bookmarks, balloons, a recipe book, Grandma’s-brag book, and an adorable toy possum. The themes are clear and distinct and really highlight the different aspects of Australian culture. Possum Magic by Mem Fox is a beautiful Australian children's book about the adventure Hush, a young possum, gets up to when her Grandma Poss uses her bush magic to turn Hush invisible. Grandma remembers that the spell came from human food, so the two possums … Part of the attraction for clinicians, who may wish to use the book for language intervention, is the concise use of language and the effortless way the text is merged with the illustrations. “Possum Magic” has been set to orchestral music and performed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Possum Magic is a classic Australian picture book that most kids can say they read as a child. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Grandma Poss loves making magic. Hush finds being Invisible fairly cool! Fox wrote her first draft for Possum Magic in 1978, during a course in children's literature at Flinders University. This is certainly the case with Possum Magic, written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas. The book is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2013. ×. I'm in. Grandma Poss’ apron, glasses … Possum Magic by Mem Fox Rating: 4.5 out of 5 "Once upon a time, but not very long ago, deep in the Australian bush lived two possums. Possum Magic is a great Australian picture story book. Possum Magic Is held highly in regards to Australian Identity and has won many awards; New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards for Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature (1984), Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards Nominee for Picture Book of the Year – Highly Commended (1984), Canberra’s Own Outstanding List (COOL) Awards for Section 1 Picture Storybooks (1994). But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums … All purchases earn Scholastic Rewards for your nominated school. Australian author Mem Fox has written so many gems over the years. ( Log Out /  This Literary piece of Aussie culture will always remain a classic Australian children’s Book. User-contributed reviews. (ACHASS1038) Grandma Poss uses her best bush magic to make Hush invisible. In this tale, Gra ndma Poss uses her magic to make the kookaburra pink and the wombat blue. format, illustrations) The … I’ve spoken before about what makes a book a classic, and ’Possum Magic’ ticks every box. Mem Fox was born in Australia, grew up in Africa, studied drama in England, and returned to Adelaide, Australia in 1970. Activities include; 1. But when Hush wants to see herself, reversing the magic is not so easy. Read all about the story behind Possum Magic. I have nothing negative to share about this story and recommend it to anyone wanting to teach their children Australian culture. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ‘Possum Magic’ is timeless and ageless, and a story which will be enjoyed by generations of children to come. In the story, the two main characters are Grandma Poss and Hush. Anzac biscuits, Mornay & minties, Pumpkin scones, Vegemite, Pavlova, Lamingtons. Australia is always undergoing changes… will it always be the same? In Possum Magic the text and illustrations “function together, both contributing to meaning-making, interdependently” (Winch, Johnston, March, Ljungdahl & Holliday, 2010, p.620). Possum Magic is a much loved picture book by Australian author Mem Fox. Apart from raising the whole issue of visibility, this sweet yarn provides an insight into distinctive culinary triumphs that are peculiarly Australian. The first edition of the novel was published in 1983, and was written by Mem Fox. Here is one she wrote years ago that would be a great story for worship settings. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The story details the duo's adventures as they tour Australia searching for the secret to Hush's visibility. Their names were Hush and Grandma Poss" Grandma Poss practices bush magic, and turns Hush invisible to keep her safe from predators. The next morning just before breakfast, Grandma Poss remembers that the solution has something to do with food, not Possum food but human food… so she and Hush set off across the Country to visit cities and states in search of a food, or combination of foods that would make Hush visible again. Grandma Poss and little Hush are two possums who live in the Australian bush. As of 2011, Possum Magic sold three million copies. [2], A stage show adaptation was developed by Monkey Baa Theatre Company and toured Australia in 2019. The book has been awarded with New South Wales Premier's Literary Award … Shop at The Scholastic Store for the best books for children, educational resources for kids, crafts for kids, teachings resources and more. Add tags for "Possum magic". The tenth publisher: Omnibus Books in Adelaide, accepted it but asked me to cut the story by two thirds, re-write it more lyrically, make it even more Australian and change the mice to a cuddly Australian animal. Possum Magic is a picture book by Australian author Mem Fox. Tags. Finding she was safe from snakes, being able to slide down Kangaroo’s backs and all sorts of Mischief! Fox tells the story of Grandma Poss and her granddaughter Hush, while Vivas portrays the characters and scenes with detail and clarity, to provide additional meaning to the text. PudStar asked for Possum Magic cupcakes for her fifth birthday – we have read her this book from birth, and I hope that like myself, she one day knows the story word for word. Grandma Poss could weave the most amazing magic … Over five years, nine publishers rejected the draft. Their names were Hush and Grandma Poss. Sign in to leave a review. Illustrated by Julie Vivas. But when Hush decides she no longer wants to be invisible, the two possums must travel across Australia in search of the magic ‘Australian’ … The Book almost covers every part of Australian Identity you can think of! Possum Magic is a great way to introduce children to Australian animals and the various landscapes that exist in Australia. Using bush magic, Grandma Poss has made her granddaughter Hush invisible, a trait that’s handy for sliding down kangaroos and avoiding snakes. Possum Magic. Hush is made invisible by Grandma Poss to protect her from dangers in the Australian bush. [5], New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, Canberra's Own Outstanding List: Picture Book Award, "Discover the wonder of Possum Magic with limited edition collector coin series", "Possum Magic | Monkey Baa Theatre Company, Darling Quarter", "Possum Magic stage show to tour the country", "Review: Possum Magic, Sydney Opera House", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Possum_Magic&oldid=1014466993, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 March 2021, at 07:39. Wha I chose possums. The Story behind Possum Magic. Reviews . Possum Magic is a classic story from the early eighties that is still very popular to this day. We were inspired by one of our favorite Mem Fox books, Possum Magic, ... We pained Hush white since she was invisible throughout most of the story. The book follows the story of two Possums, Grandma Poss and Hush. Joined by an extraordinary creative team, Monkey Baa is thrilled to present a brand new stage adaptation of this magical Australian classic. Include what the environment would look like, what animals he would be threatened by and where he would find possum food. This is why I feel so bad about writing this review – this story was unequivocally not for me. Tasks include - KWHL – two options to choose from. Her very distinctive watercolour style is seen in such well-known books as Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partidge, The Nativity, Let the Celebrations Begin, Let’s EatandHello Baby. Imagine you are Poss,write a short story about life in the Australian outback from Poss' point of view. 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