Possum pictures maintain the magic

Kelly Yates
CHILDREN munched on Vegemite sandwiches and lamingtons during last week’s opening of the Possum Magic illustrations exhibition.
More than 50 children from five local day care centres, Dandenong Day Care Centre, Noble Park Community Childcare Service, Warner Reserve Day Care, Market Street Occasional Childcare Centre, Keysborough Community Childcare Centre and Fifth Avenue Day Care Centre, attended the annual children’s book exhibition last Friday.
The Walker Street Gallery welcomed Possum Magic’s illustrator Julie Vivas who read the classic picture book to the children.
Possum Magic was written by Mem Fox and was first published in 1983.
The watercolour illustrations have kept Possum Magic alive in the minds of both children and adults for more than 25 years.
The Dandenong gallery also showcased artwork by some of the visiting children, aged from two to five years.
Illustrator Julie Vivas said the immediate success of Possum Magic still shocked her.
“It’s something I will never get used to,” she said.
Ms Vivas said she was amazed that after 25 years, people were still enthusiastic about Possum Magic.
“The special thing about Possum Magic is the Australian culture that is explored,” she said.
The Sydney based illustrator said she spent many days at the zoo, researching for Possum Magic.
“I had to watch how the possums moved and how they interacted with each other,” she said.
Ms Vivas said it took several attempts before she got the right illustrations for the book.
The Possum Magic exhibition will be on show at the Walker Street Gallery until 28 July.