Possum Magic and the Beauty of a Simple Life
One of my weekly rituals includes a walk to the Firehall Branch of the Vancouver Public Library. On a recent visit, while browsing the parenting section, I came across a gently worn copy of Living Simply with Children by Marie Sherlock. The bent corners and yellowing pages an indication of how many hands touched its pages. This guide to simpler living instantly reminded me of my dear friends: Anik and Stu.
Photo by Stu Coleman.
Anik and I met volunteering at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival back in 2008. It was one of those spark encounters when someone brand new feels like someone you’ve always known. She laughs easily. She hugs generously. She has a seriously green thumb. She listens to the radio while sipping her morning coffee. She kisses both cheeks, for she is Québécoise. She gesticulates with spirit and lives with intention. Anik centers well-being, her own, that of others, and of the earth, at the core of everything she does. She’s a weaver, both literally and metaphorically. From sourcing fiber to dyeing naturally and practicing the art of Saoriweaving, she pours her soul into her creations. You can see her artistic practice at Fibre Sauvage. She also makes the best crepes.
Stu, originally from Australia, moves through life in a gentle rhythm. He’s a freshly squeezed juice master, a surfer, woodworker, and architect. Together, they’ve created one of my favorite spaces in Vancouver, a home filled with nature and creativity. A backyard that makes this city lot look like a homestead, with tomato vines climbing up hemp strings, fresh lettuces, a healthy composting corner. In their kitchen there’s always something simmering, the laundry drying in the breeze, and cycling adventures being planned.
When I first wrote about this book, back in 2013, Anik and Stu had been living in Vancouver. As I revisit this post, we’re both geographically re-arranged. The home they lived in was sold, demolished, and a brand new house was built on almost the entirety of the lot. No veggies to be found in the garden. Not much in the way of breathing room. And so I sigh a little because this was a place I loved with a slanted porch with a string of Tibetan flags worn from the years gone by. I still remember the blue armchair in the kitchen-dining room. Anik’s pile of library books beside it. Her knitting, always within reach.
Possum Magic, written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas, is a classic Australian picture book full of charm, curiosity, and love.
The story follows Grandma Poss and her granddaughter Hush, who lives in the Australian bush. Grandma Poss has a few tricks up her sleeve—most notably, the ability to make Hush invisible. But one day, Hush decides she wants to be seen again. And so begins their quest across Australia, from Adelaide to Tasmania, in search of the human food that will bring her back.
The illustrations are soft, expressive, and detailed, with glimpses of Australia’s regional fauna and foods. At its core, Possum Magic is a story about personal quest, courage, and intergenerational love. It beautifully captures the bond between grandparent and child, a relationship full of understanding, adventure, and unconditional care.
Anik and Stu are my people. They know me, we cry together, we laugh a bigger share of the time, they remind me to slow down. I treasure every moment, every bite, every long voice message, and every hug we get to share across the oceans and farway lands.
Book: Possum Magic
Words by: Mem Fox
Pictures by: Julie Vivas
Published: 1983, Omnibus Books (Australia); U.S. edition by Harcourt
What it’s about: A young possum named Hush becomes invisible through Grandma Poss’s magic. Together, they travel across Australia to find the food that will make her visible again.
Themes: Family Bonds, Adventure, Magic, Cultural Exploration, Intergenerational Love, Australia
Recommended Ages: Great for 3–7
Canada Link
U.S. Link
