Australia Books

It's hard to find the "right" words to describe this book and how it made me feel. The story was absolutely gripping and I could not put it down the night I started it so I stayed up all night to finish it. I truly find Judy an amazing person and an excellent role model for how resilient we are and how we go on living our lives. She and her family will never be forgotten in the lives of those who read this book. The writing by Hester is superb, no one could have done better. This would make an excellent book for any bookclub.

A wonderful look at someone surviving and overcoming an overwhelming tragedy. Thank you Hester for telling the Sleavin story so well.

Riveting--couldn't put it down. Heartfelt and respectfully written. How can you not live each day on this planet as if it were your last after reading Judy's story?

According to Virginia Woolf, "A masterpiece is something said once and for all, stated, finished, so that it's there complete in the mind, if only at the back." Initially I was hesitant to read this book thinking I might not be able to enjoy it (based on the subject matter). However, the book proved to be nothing of the sort. Let it be known that Dr. Hester has crafted a masterpiece here, expertly weaving the details of Judy Sleavin's story into a captivating, awe-inspiring and significant read that offers as much in content as it does a message about life.

Ten Degrees of Reckoning by Hester Rumberg is a haunting yet heartwarming book that is difficult to put down while you are reading it and even more difficult to forget once you have finished the last page. The injustice of the events pervades your very being and yet Judy Sleavin's persistence in living demonstrates the power that love can have one one's life. A must read.
Sondra Pearlman

Thirty short stories by W. Somerset Maugham including "Rain" which is about a prudish missionary and a prostitute and "The Three Fat Women of Antibes" which is an ironic story about self-denial and greed.

As a writer, Maugham considered himself "on the first row of the secondraters". I think he was being modest. Maugham has written some of the finest short stories ever written. His purpose was to do no more than tell an interesting story, but the reader gets much more. Each story is perfectly told; not one word is wasted, each character is fully realized. Maugham observes and never judges his characters. His short stories can be read many times and with each reading the reader finds something new and interesting. Somerset Maugham's short stories takes the reader to a time that is now past but still very relevant.

Somerset is an amazing writer whose words flowed so freely and expressively it makes you want to cry. This book of shorts is classic Maugham and un-put-downable. You'll love it.

The story" Fall of Edward Barnard" is a confrontation between what is called'the Civilized World' and the indigenous, the savage, the primitive world. Edward, thankful to a relative already fascinated by the beauties of the islands around tahiti, had a one life opportunity to have a very introspective reflexion about the meaning of his life. Sent from Chicago for two years, he will delay his return and the promise he made to his bride Isabelle. Why ? Because facing the natural beauty, almost thunderstruck by such simplicity, he wonders what the use of all this hustle and constant striving in our cities which are all but stones with ceasless turmoil. After a unsuccessful beginning in working, he chose a simple life based on beauty, truth and goodness. His thoughts reach the universal when asking himself ( throughout the author's philosophy ) why do we come into the world for to hurry to an office and work hour after hour

I came to know Maugham through his novels, especially The Razor's Edge, Of Human Bondage, and Cakes and Ale. I purchased this collection not knowing what to expect. The stories are character focused, at times incredibly witty and amusing, at times melancholy and near heart-breaking. As in his novels, Maugham has the ability to make the reader see what is not written. Highlights include The Rain, a commentary on the work of missionaries, and The Pool, one of the saddest shorts ever written. Others, such as The Three Fat Women of Antibbes, will probably make you laugh out loud. A first rate collection.

As the other reviewers have stated, this book covers almost anything a novice to serious homecook would want to see in a cookbook. From abalone to zabalione, it has the antedotes, stories, history, and backgrounds.

The book does slant towards (urban) Australian cooking since Alexander is Australian. Simply put, if you put aside the concept of Steve Irwin or Paul "Dundee" Holgan crocodile and kangaroo, and certainly Outback Steakhouse tongue-in-cheek dishes, the true picture of early 21st century Australian cooking is not terribly far from starting with British cooking with a hefty dose of Italian and Greek first, then Chinese, Japanese, and the Southeast Asian/ASEAN except the Philippines and Burma, cuisines thrown into the mix, and Turkish and Lebanan cooking acting as cameo appearances. All these will probably not shock much of modern American palates except Southeast Asian tastes may crop up more frequently than what you are used to, even to those who are used to Californian dining.

The book does teach basics like how to make a roast for the first time, although I would recommend a techniques/"How to Cook" type cookbook as a tutorial to it since Alexander assumes at least a little cooking knowledge.

A highly recommended book for cooking basics, and those who want to have an Australian-based cooking.

PS It must be noted cooking in New Zealand is a little different from neighbouring Australia, although there are trickle-down effects from Australian food across the Tasman. For instance, there is less direct Asian influence in NZ cooking due to lesser number of Southeast Asian international students studying in this country. We use less lemongrass, we still stick to more British cooking. There is also an absence of much Lebanan influences due to the migrants' tiny numbers. There is more Pacific influences such as taro and coconut in some urban dishes. So this book may give a good approximation but not a completely picture of NZ cuisine.

It's a big claim, but this might be the greatest cookbook ever published.

The crowning piece of the author's long and distinguished career, it is utterly comprehensive, authoritative and, befitting its title, friendly and companionable.

Alexander begins with a general introduction followed by thorough sections on equipment and basic ingredients, preparations and techniques.

Then follows the main body of the work, which runs to more than 1100 pages without ever seeming too long or even too heavy. Well over a hundred ingredients, starting with abalone and ending with zucchini and squash, are covered. She begins with introductory remarks, which often venture into history and folklore, sometimes spiced with appropriate literary quotations. Each entry has useful notes on varieties and seasons [although here adjustments will need to be made for northern hemisphere readers] on selection and storage and on preparation and cooking.

Then come the recipes. Each ingredient is given at least two or three recipes, the more significant might have a dozen or so, with cross references to maybe as many more elsewhere in the book.

This is a book to lose yourself in, to seek inspiration in, to answer any of a hundred and one questions.

No serious cook deserves to be without this.

I don't know a lot about the kitchen and cooking, so I felt that this book was a great way to start. It taught me so much about cooking and more importantly, it explained a lot of things about ingredients and how to prepare them. It was VERY informative, especially for beginners. I highly recommend this book, even if you are not from Australia.

Have gone through all but 80% of the recipes in the book. The most impressive thing is the simple instructions and advice, which are always precise and helpful. How other cooks can spend pages on the instructions is beyond me, it's a cook book, not a novel. Probably should drop a star for the amount of offal recipes, but having tried it SOME are not too bad, but not rushing to try them again, e.g. pigs trotters. But this is another positive point to the book, the comprehensive range of ingredients used and the they way they can be cooked, ensures there is a number of recipes to meet everyones tastes and cooking styles.

I use this book all the time. It covers all the basics such as stocks and sauces as well as giving you ideas for how to use just about any ingredient you might have in your kitchen.

The book is organised alphabetically by main ingredient and there is also a comprehensive, user-friendly index.

Every recipe I have made from this book has been successful. This book helped me make great potato gnocchi for the first time ever (and I've tried many other recipes).

Highly recommended!

My four year old son is in love with this chapter series! A friend suggested it to us since he seemed ready for a more advanced reading material at bedtime. My husband reads him a chapter every night...sometimes more because they don't want to stop. It's become a great tradition for them, and something they both look forward to. We love that there are so many in the collection! Start with number 1 and just continue. :)

My daughter loves these books and this one is the only one she was missing. Happy to have found it through Amazon!

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

Jack and Annie are helping Teddy get all four presents. They're going to Australia to find the last present. They go on all kinds of adventures like helping a little kangaroo get back to its mother. Will Jack and Annie help the little kangaroo find its mother? If you want to know, you'll have to read Dingoes At Dinnertime. I like this book. It's good because I like the Dingoes because they remind me of my dog Paco.

Jack and Annie are trying to get the last present to free Teddy from the spell .Can they get the last present? My favorite part was
When Teddy helped Jack and Annie to get out of the wild fire.
I really liked this book you should too!

You want to know why you should or shouldn't read this book. Here is why you absolutely should read Fit, Fat and Forty by Nigel Marsh:
-If you want to laugh out loud at original yet unmistakably British humor, read this book.
-If you are looking for a better way of conducting capitalism, read this book.
-If you are unsatisfied with your life and are looking for inspiration, wisdom, examples, and a fantastic adventure, read this book.
-If you are an alcoholic, or suspect that your drinking has caused some of your problems and missed opportunities, read this book.
-If you can read, read this book. It is an important essay on fathering, business leadership, lifestyle management, and alternative paths to enlightentment. And if all of that bores you, then just read it for the laughs; Nigel Marsh is as much a hilarious author as he is a wise and enlightened leader.

This book is easy to read and very entertaining. I highly recommend it. I have only one criticism. Nigel Marsh is not some poor smuck who was fired from his average job. He is an extremely well educated, intellegent man who was able at age forty to correct some things about his life that needed fixing by not working for about 10 months. As a father, I had the same day dream when my children were small. I admire Mr. Marsh for being able to make his day-dream come true. I don't think it would have worked out as well for me or many other folks. Still, those ten months were great for Mr. Marsh and his family.

Loved this book. The odyssey of the author's year off work is rich, poignant, warm, and at times hilarious. Highly recommended for everyone. Great Father's Day gift idea!
(LD)

Nigel has an excellent way of sharing a perspecitve of work/life balance through stories we can all relate to. I was recently in a similar situation, and although I found this book after getting back to work, I wish I had found it sooner. I encourage everyone who found this review using the search words "Help me, I just got fired, have lost touch with my family, need perpective through humor" -click on the shopping cart!. Nigel puts great honesty and wit out there for us, take advantage, there aren't that many books this good.

This book is disarmingly funny, genuine and touching. A must read for all generations and for anyone feeling afflicted by Affluenza. Look forward to seeing this make a huge splash in the US this summer. Great bookclub and chat show material I would have thought...buy it now!

This story is so exceptional and wonderful!!! I read the book loaned by a New Zealand friend and loved it so much that I purchased it in N.Z. It has now been loaned to friends here in the U.S. and in turn they have passed my copy on to others. I have just finished buying a 2nd copy.

After reading this book I felt two things, the first being emotionaly drained, and the second so humbled. I cried when he cried and laughed when he laughed. The thing that struck me most was that any other person who would of gone through what he did what of been so bitter and sad, yet you really did believe that he considered himself fortunate. The way it which he meets his wife will warm even the coldest heart. A truly beautiful book

As a young Australian, reading this book reinforced the hardships the early Australians had to put up with. This is an amazing and inspirational story about a young mans life that had to put up with the hardest upbringing and the Gallipoli campaign. Even at the end of his life he was still able to call it fortunate. Its a great read for anybody.

When this book was first released, I saw that it had won a State Award (NSW Premier's Award). So I picked it up and started reading. I couldn't put it down. I bought it, read it and couldn't stop praising it. I was SO impressed that I bought 25 copies to give to friends for Christmas.

Bert Facey, the man that this book is about, speaks to you from the book as your grandparents would tell you a story whilst you sat at their knee.

It is beatifully told. Such courage in adversity, stoic in enduring pains, the love he shows to his family.

I wish I could tell you more; but I belive that reviews that tell you about a book ruin the story.

It has my highest recommendation! A must have book, to read again and again.

The author of this book was approached in old age to talk about his life. From memory it was because of some form of literary grant or a history project. However what was said was of such quality it was transcribed into a book and became a huge seller in Australia.

The author grew up in Australia around the time of Federation. He was abandoned by his mother and from an early age did tough farming work in Western Australia at the time pasture land was being cut out of the forests. His work involved ringbarking trees and then clearing them. He worked for a brutal man and his early life is enough to make anyone cry.

He served at Galliopoli and was injured by a trench collapse. This restricted his ability to do farm work and after the first world war he worked as a tram driver and later owned a poultry farm.

One of the most touching things about the book is the quality of its author. Despite the worst hardships imaginable not one bitter word comes from his mouth. His view of his life was that it was fortunate despite being the victim of countless acts of cruelty and abandoment.

The book is a classif of life in early Australia and if there was justice in the world it should never go out of print.

The title says it all: "Trombones" represents the preservation of the history of the community backbone of prayer, persistence, and strength. The poetry gives some insight to the suffering of the elders, and speaks to the continuing fight for the full parity of the AfricanAmerican community in a country that was literally built upon the bleeding, sweaty backs of my ancestors.

Amazon is to be commended for participating in this historical preservation of a works that I would recommend as mandatory reading for generations to come - regardless of religion, gender, or color.

My soul is galvanized everytime I hear or read James Weldon Johnson's God's Trombones. I have directed student perfomances of this deeply moving African American text. "The Crucifixion," for example, tells the story of how Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Savior,my Friend, suffered death on an old cross so that I might have an opportunity to be more sensitive to the hurting. The "Prodigal Son" urges me to experience and, thus understand, that I must live with a redemptive consiousness. And, of course, I am compelled to understand, through the poem "Go Down Death" this reality: God does call His children home. Those who have suffered "long in the vineyard" are deserving of rest. For sure, God's Trombones is a poetic tribute to an experience that is Christian and African American. I thank James Welson Johnson for creating this poetic masterpiece. Let's continue to read it; let's perform it. Let's live within the context of the spirituality of the voice. Amen!

God's Trombones is a beautiful expression of the themes of the Southern black experience and God's constant, personal presence in their lives. The themes he chose were expressed in sermons and in Gospel music. For the black person, God was aware of their struggles, would bring them out of "Egypt" (slavery) and would eventually take them to their home "over Jordan". Death would be a gentle freedom for those who were weary (as in "Go down Death").

Johnson's introduction explains that he was trying to express the fervant Southern black preacher with his pauses and emphases. He has done both well.

This is a book to be read for its beauty and inspiration, but more important, it shows (theological inaccuracies aside) how an oppressed people trusted in God's gentle hand, and God's constant love for even the "least" of his Creation.

I recommend this for historians, teachers, lovers of poetry, and for its spiritual content, anyone seeking inspiration.

My dad teaches Sunday School and was looking for this book to incorporate into his lesson plans. I found it here at Amazon and fell in love with this book. Absolutely wonderful to read and very profound. Exceptional!

While James Weldon Johnson's theology is not always orthodox ("God thought and thought" - who could put a new thought in God's mind? unless it was God and, then, God would not be God - this insight compliments of E.V. Hill in his sermon "When Was God At His Best?"), JWJ's poetry and, especially, his Preface displays the harmonious beauty of a long tradition of African American preaching not generally known or appreciated outside of African American circles. If one really wants to become familiar with and, indeed, edified by the godly reaching of E.V. Hill (now deceased), Fred Luter, Tony Evans, Robert Smith and a host of unknowns who preach with substance and, sometimes, in the "whoop"ing style, then, Weldon's book is a must read. May Christianity never lose what God has brought forth in a substantial style which stirs heart, mind and soul.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/ROFPGM4FEAJKE

WHEN A HOMOSEXUAL CHRISTIAN LEADER `COMES OUT'

Review: Anthony Venn-Brown's 'A Life of Unlearning: a Journey to Find the Truth', 2nd edition, New Holland Publishers, 2007.

The Church has wrestled with a dozen major paradigm-shifts in its history. The first had to do with accepting Gentiles. The Protestant Reformation was built on the radical proposition that we are saved by faith purely on the basis of God's grace, and that we can trust ordinary folks to read the Bible. Then there was slavery, charismatic renewal, women in leadership... Conservative groups have recently wrestled with issues like dancing, divorce, Sabbath/Sunday-behaviour, dress-codes, and rock music.

And now the Big One: Homosexuality.

After 25 years counselling ex-pastors, what generalizations can I make about Christian homosexual ministers who declare their orientation/ practice?

If they were credentialled by a fundamentalist denomination they will be treated, with very few exceptions, as lepers/pariahs, and even with hate. [1] If from an evangelical background, the neglect will be more benign: they may receive one or two contacts from their colleagues (or they may not). Mainline Christians are less homophobic, but also often uncaring.

Fundamentalists/Pharisees quote Paul: `[Do not] associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral... Drive out the wicked person from among you' (1 Corinthians 5:11,12, NRSV). [2]

Progressive Evangelicals align their stance with that of Jesus, who was castigated by religious leaders for hanging out with 'publicans and sinners'. They might agree with Tony Campolo: 'In the likelihood that most (homosexuals) will still have their basic sexual orientations regardless of their efforts to change, we must do more than simply bid them be celibate. We must find ways for them to have fulfilling, loving experiences so that they might have their humanity affirmed and their incorporation into the Body of Christ assured.' [3]

Anthony Venn-Brown is probably Australia's first openly-gay Pentecostal leader. His story is both typical (he attempted suicide) and atypical (he attends a Pentecostal Church and has set up a ministry - Freedom 2 B[e] - a network for GLBTIQ - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer - people from Pentecostal and Charismatic backgrounds).

Wikipedia says he prefers to be known as a gay ambassador rather than a gay activist. [4] That's also atypical: most homosexual ex-pastors (and serving pastors for that matter) still lie very low.

When I tell clergy conferences that every Christian denomination has pastors and ex-pastors who are gay, that used to be greeted with disbelief. Now, of course, they've all moved beyond the `Don't ask, don't tell' stance.

And when I write/preach that the Bible has nothing whatever to say about homosexuality as a (non-chosen) orientation, most conservative Christians just don't understand. Non-chosen? Yes: I've not met a homosexual or lesbian client who chose to be that way: most of them would prefer to be a much-less-complicated - and socially more acceptable - heterosexual.

But not Anthony: if reincarnation was true, he writes, he wouldn't mind coming back as a homosexual. Again, atypical.

Sample paragraph: `I was overcome by a feeling of utter failure. I thought about what I'd done to Helen and the girls, the people who might lose faith because of my transgression, the humiliation of everyone knowing my sin, the way I'd discredited the ministry and how unworthy I was of anyone's love, even God's... I was a failure as a husband, father and servant of God' (p. 285).

Anthony's book is well-written, a `must-read' for all (adult - though some may disagree with that) Christians, especially Christian leaders. It's confronting, occasionally (appropriately) explicit, irenic, sad, honest, and well-researched. There's a commendable integrity about his approach. (My main suggestion would be that in the next edition he adds an appendix with a more in-depth summary of the biblical/theological material.)

Two of the most difficult questions for conservative Christians relate to a 'cure' for homosexuality and the issue of same-sex marriages.

Anthony's experience demonstrates that the advice often given to people with same sex orientation - that a heterosexual marriage will solve the problem and be the final evidence that they have received a 'miracle' - frequently ends in a traumatic and devastating experience for the partner and children: one that can take years to heal. Also most will be shocked to learn, from the emails Anthony has received, that some Christian parents and church leaders suggest hiring an opposite sex prostitute to help with the 'cure'. Obviously there is still a great deal of ignorance out there about sexual orientation and church leaders need to be more informed.

On the issue of same-sex relationships, I have said often that there's a great deal of hypocrisy in our churches. In an ABC TV program I suggested that churches have been selective in their indignation re the three so-called 'deadly sexual sins' - adultery, fornication, and homosexual practice. We condemn the first and third, but most (yes, most) of our Christian young people practise the second one: but are not excluded from the memberships of most churches on that account. (Why? They're the children of church leaders!).

Here's a heart-felt comment from Anthony on this question: 'Those who are privileged to have a close relationship/friendship with gay or lesbian couples know that the essentials that build and maintain their relationships are the same as heterosexual marriages: love, trust, respect and a desire to create a life long partnership. These are all honourable traits and should not be condemned as evil but supported by those who believe God's love is for all. To welcome them into our churches is an acknowledgment of the right choices they have made.'

And I would add that no one should be definitive on this broad issue until/unless they have listened carefully to the stories of homosexual people.

We may not agree with all Anthony says, but if our homophobic judgmentalism can't cope with this sort of 'in your face' truthfulness, or if we don't cry with Anthony sometimes - he cries a lot - my gentle suggestion would be to get help!

Rowland Croucher

November 26, 2007

*****

You can purchase his book here: http://www.anthonyvennbrown.com/

Anthony's blog - http://alifeofunlearning.blogspot.com/

Freedom 2 b[e] - http://www.freedom2b.org/phpBB2/

*****

[1] http://www.godhatesfags.com/

[2] Put Anthony's name into `Find on this page' at http://www.christian-witness.org/active/mail/y_letter35.html

[3] Homosexuality: an Interview with Jesus - http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/12135.htm

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Venn-Brown

[5] You can read the transcript and view it here: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/13440.htm

I have read many books and heard many speaker discussing coming out and as they address the conflict with one's sexuality and faith. Venn-Brown presents a work that rings an authentic tone as he unearths the pain of living a closeted life. He does so without self-indulgence or bitterness. His words brim with hope, humor and integrity. As he unfolds the complexity of being a Christian who also happens to be gay, he reveals the many horrors we can inflict upon ourselves and others in our attempts to submerge parts of our personalities. He also models the courageous process of starting a new while remaining faithful to the people and beliefs at our core.
I highly recommend this book.
-Peterson Toscano
author of Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House--How I Survived the Ex-Gay Movement

I really loved this book. To me it was not about a gay man coming out, its about how an outdated society seeks to contain aspects of our life if someone decides to follow their inner feelings and be different to the 'normal' people around them. Trying to control the world with fear only results in pain from oppressing feelings and therefore wasting life.
He has proved that being gay is not a sexual thing, its a state of mind.
I have more admiration for the writer of this book than anyone who climes Mount Everest. The mountains that we build in our minds take more effort to clamber over that anything on earth. He pushed ahead in his life. Sometimes falling for long periods but always coming back to holding on to what he found to be the true him. For what its worth, I am straight male, you don't need to be gay to read this.......and it will not turn you either if you are worried about that. Honestly I give it 10/10.

This is an extremely moving account of an ex-minister's journey to find his total purpose in life during the midst of a high profile ministry and at the expense of losing everything he had. But arising from the ashes of despair, he awakens to a new self-discovery of who he really is and has a new sense of self worth and importance.

Mr. Venn-Brown speaks from the heart of his painful journey of battling and coming to terms with his same-sex orientation while becoming one of Australia's leading pastor/evangelists within the Assemblies of God. His journey is identified by many who have been isolated/rejected by the conservative mainstream church because they were gay.

Mr. Venn-Brown's story has made it to the United States and other countries. It is a must read for anyone who needs to discover and be reacquainted with who they are within themselves. I am truly blessed and honored to have read his story.

"The Runaway Pancake" has had an impact on the children in my Kindergarten (five-year old) class for a few years now. When I play the cd, they scream and laugh and have a ball. When I read the story, they recite every word, laugh and clap along. I have them draw pictures of their favorite parts and, believe me, they do a bang-up job. Mr. Lithgow is an amazing talent with a Kindergartener's soul. He relates to these children and their fantasies with a charisma one seldom sees. I have enjoyed him for years on television and in the movies, but seeing him one evening reading this story and singing parts of it, well, he simply enchanted me and I ran out and got the book and cd without hesitation. John Lithgow is simply wonderful and the story of the runaway pancake is exceptional in all areas. I truly love it!

We borrowed this book from the library with the CD and played it for the kids in my preschool class (ages 3 & 4). It was requested again and again and again by the entire class. They absolutely loved it! What a fun book. I took it home for my own kids to hear it (ages 8 & 7) and they adored it too. It's so cute to be in the class while the kids are playing and hear them singing "No, no, no, no, no I'm too fast, you're too slow...." while they're building with Legos or playing with puzzles. I can play with CD without the book and it provides the same amusement. John Lithgow is a talented narrator. It was a wonderful discovery.

I picked this book because of an NPR interview with John Lithgow a couple years ago and these favorable reviews. My 4 year old son loves it! He even wanted to take it in for Show and Tell. He likes the book OR the cd version where John L. reads it, but not both at the same time. He has memorized the whole Pancake song and sings it quite jauntily. Now my 2 year old is starting to recite phrases from it!

My 3 year old son absolutely loves this book and CD. He learned about it at preschool, and has been singing us the song at home. We finally bought him a copy for Christmas, and now that we finally heard the true version, we can see why he loves it so much. The CD is great, as are the illustrations. It's based on the gingerbread man, but is very clever in its adaptation, and definitely captures the attention of preschoolers.

She received this book with the CD for her birthday and loved it so much she had to share it with her pre-school class again and again. I ended up donating it to the class and had to purchase another copy for home.

Very cute book, lovely illustrations. My kids loved this book when they were younger, so I bought it for my niece's little girl and she loves it too.

This is a superbly lovely book for pre-schoolers and children in the early grades. After seeing it in Australia, I ordered three copies, one for each set of grandkids. My grandgirls, 5 and 7, made me read it to them twice, even though they both can read most of it, and I even caught the 9-year-old eavesdropping. It is one of those books whose illustrations match the charm of the text, and both text and pix are simple, straightforward, yet colorful and delightful and totally enchanting. It's the story of how Hush, a little girl possum, is made invisible by her Grandma Poss's magic and their subsequent search to make her visible again, which they do by cycling around Australia (and sailing to Tasmania in an umbrella) and eating the various specialty foods. Just naming them will make any Ozzie homesick: pavlova, lamington, vegemite, minties, etc. Even a Yank tourist like myself gets a little misty-eyed. The only thing the author left out was Victoria Bitter, but it is a children's book, after all.

This is a classic Australian picturebook which is becoming popular again as those of us from the generation who were kids when it was first published (1983) now are buying it ourselves and reading it to our children or nieces and nephews. Granted there's always the hey I remember this book when I was kid factor that drives up sales but unlike a lot of books which have this factor of when you get home and read them you remember that you never really liked that book back when you were kid because it is infact not that good, Possum Magic is remembered and was popular back in the 80's because it was a good book. Although some of the food (remedies for Hush's invisibility) inside are no longer uniquely Australian (which is a good thing), learnign about them along with the uniquely Australian wildlife inside this book would make an ideal gift or purchase for any Australian now living overseas to read to their kids and teach them a bit about their heritage. For anyone whose not Australian it is a great opportunity to learn something about Australian culture.

The basic tale of this book revolves around a little girl possum called Hush whose grandma (named Grandma Poss) who was an expert in bush magic turned Hush invisible to prevent her being eaten by snakes (now of course in reality snakes don't use sight like we do to find their prey but see the heat from the body like someone wearing night vision goggles does so being invisible wouldn't have actually helped Hush but anyway this is a fiction book and that's a discussion/lesson probably left for an age group older than this book's target market). Although Hush gets into a few dilemmas as the result of being invisible such as being sat on by a koala she still gets up to lots of fun like riding down the back of kangaroos like a slippery dip. Hush however wants to know what she looks like so asks Grandma Poss to make her visible again which Grandma Poss has of course forgotten, although she remembers it has something to do with human food. This is the tale of finding the cure and travelling across (with a bit of poetic licence by riding a bike and in a floating umbrella the vast distances of) Australia to find it.

Other good children's books about invisibility if that's what you were after include My Best Friend Is Invisible (Goosebumps) by R. L. Stine, You Are Invisible: CYOA #48 by Susan Saunders, The Invisible Day by Marthe Jocelyn, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex, you can even get an illustrated version of H.G. Wells 1897 classic The Invisible Man (Great Illustrated Classics).

Delightful book with illustrations that takes kids 3-6 on an imaginative trip to Australia. I could identify with the main character, "Grandma Poss."

A wonderful picture book with a delightful story line and engaging illustrations, Mem Fox provides a culinary tour of the "best of Australia" in her book Possum Magic. Young people will learn about the geography and foods of the Land Down Under as they travel with Little Possum and his grandma searching for the foods that will make him visible again.