Possum Magic Cookbook illustrated by Julie Vivas

First published in 1985 with the title The Grandma Poss Cookbook. 

Betsy Bird and her sister have a podcast where they talk about older picture books. I am a fairly regular listener and I usually enjoy their banter and slightly 'nitpicking' insights into some of my favourite titles. I am sorry to say, however, that the episode about our beloved Possum Magic by Mem Fox did raise my ire. I will explain in a moment. I did, however, learn a new word: Interstitial which means sentences that are brief statements and serve as transitions or interruptions in a larger piece of writing. These types of sentences play a crucial role in guiding the reader through the text and enhancing its overall flow. By inserting interstitial sentences strategically, writers can effectively connect different ideas and maintain the reader’s interest.

I was happy that they both loved the illustrations in Possum Magic by Julie Vivas - she is a national treasure. Hopefully Betsy and her sister might hunt out some of her other books - my favourite is Puffling.

Now check out my previous post from 2012 about the book Possum Magic (1983).

Points I dispute:

Mem Fox is like Dr Seuss - not really. For one thing she uses many different illustrators (she is the author of her books but not the illustrator). Also, her books are generally not as witty as Dr Seuss. In my view the only possible way to relate these two authors would be that they both use rhyming texts. Perhaps Betsy is right that Mem Fox is famous but not nearly as famous as Dr Seuss. And I would not link Mem Fox with Julia Donaldson.

Mem Fox says (in a 2026 Guardian article) talking about reading to her daughter: “When she was little, there were no Aus­tralian pic­ture books,” Fox says. “There were a lot of Eng­lish books, there were a lot of Amer­ican books, but they were not Aus­tralian books.” Here are some 1970's picture books that I still shared with kids decades later: The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek 1974; Aranea 1976; John Brown, Rose and the midnight cat 1978; The lighthouse keeper's lunch 1978; The Oath of Bad Brown Bill 1979; and Sunshine 1982. 

"Put a shrimp on the barbie; a dingo ate my baby" etc sorry Betsy this part of your recording is somewhat offensive. No one speaks like this in Australia. 

It is Grandma POSS not puss. Poss - short for possum. 

Yes we do have different possums - here is a photo of an Australian possum - they eat fruit, flowers and leaves and are often found scavenging in urban areas. I have a few in my area. 

Never heard of lamingtons?  Surely you can just 'Google' this and NO Betsy this is not a dessert - these are small, delicious cakes. In the cookbook featured in this post, Julie Vivas fills the end papers with lamingtons. We even have a Lamington Day here in Australia.

I have read Possum Magic so many times and I have never even noticed the dingo - and please find out how to say the word 'emu'. You do have scary mammals in the US - the wolf and the coyote for example.

Pumpkin Scones are associated with Queensland (but made everywhere) because the wife of a former Premier of that state sort of made them famous as her trademark recipe. Her name was Florence Bjelke-Petersen and this aspect of Australian politics is open to a level of ridicule.

Darwin is a city - it is the capital of the Northern Territory - I am very surprised you had not heard of this place. How lucky Possum Magic has a map at the back along with a glossary of the foods the pair eat.

Here is the recipe (from the Mem Fox web page);

Lamingtons

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of butter
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 and a half cups of sugar (8 oz)
• 3 cups of self-raising flour (12 oz)
4 eggs

Method:

Beat together the butter, sugar and eggs. Add milk, then add the flour and beat well. Bake in a large square cake tin for 45-50 mins at ‘cake temperature’ (gas 180C or 350F; electric 180-200C or 350-400F). When completely cold, cut into 3 inch squares, cover with icing (frosting) and dip in fine coconut. 

Icing:

Sift 1 kilo of icing sugar with 4 tablespoons of cocoa. Work in 250 grams of butter then slowly add half a cup of hot water to make it rather thin. Add half a teaspoon. of vanilla. Place basin containing icing over a bowl of hot water to keep icing sort of runny. With a skewer, hold each piece of cake and ice it all over and then toss it in coconut spread on greaseproof paper. 

This weekend we are focusing on ANZAC day and that means some people will be baking ANZAC biscuits - these are mentioned in Possum Magic by Mem Fox and of course are included in this cookery book.

Anzac Biscuits
Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup plain flour (8 oz)
• 1 cup dessicated (shredded) coconut
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 4oz or 125gms unsalted butter, cubed butter
• 1/4 cup golden syrup (NOT honey)
• 2 tablespoons boiling water
• Salt

Method:
Mix dry ingredients, making a well in the centre. Dissolve baking soda in the boiling water. Warm the butter and the syrup in a small pan until the butter is runny, then add the soda & water. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and mix. If the mixture is too dry add a little more water. Roll out and cut biscuits roughly 3 inches round. Bake in oven for 20 minutes at 180 Centigrade (350 Fahrenheit.)

Here are some other famous Australian picture books written around the same time as Possum Magic: Mr Archimedes Bath 1981; Sunshine 1982; Whistle up the Chimney 1982; A pet for Mrs Arbuckle 1982; Who sank the boat 1983; There's a sea in my bedroom 1984; Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge 1984.

If you would like to read anther book that travels around Australia:

And this one about ANZAC Biscuits.

Best recipes in the Possum Magic cookbook: Minty pea toasties; Twirly Whirlys (small wraps); Honey Crackles (great recipe but I personally don't like these); Frog Jelly; Sparkle Biscuits; and Apple Fizz Drink.

The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

The curse: "We must find The Marigold's stolen treasure and return it before the dawn of the last day of the seventh year. If we don't we are doomed to be turned to sand."

"You are much more than your name, always remember that. All of us are a tale within a tale within a tale."

So, time is ticking. As this story begins it is the seventh year - April 4th 1719 and they only have until December 31st to complete their quest.

Every crew member (called the Worshipful Company of Uncommon Seamen) on the ship and every 'kidnapped' child is there because they possess a magical gift. With Lavender this gift is of hearing and naming the winds. You are right if you are thinking this is a very important skill on a sailing ship. 

I really wanted a character list for this book so I have created one:

• Lavender Wolfe - left at a wharf by her mother, snatched by the cook Big Agatha and taken onto a pirate ship named The Good Marchioness "the most magical and cursed pirate ship that ever sailed the seven seas". Lavender is renamed Hans Whitby (Whitby is the name of the town where she was 'found').
• Big Agatha the ogress and magical cook - she hugged "so hard that you were turned to flummery with being loved." "I can sense a teaspoonful of magic in an urchin quick as the whiskers grow on my chin. Yet I cannot say what that magic all be." 
• Colin one of the kitchen rats - he/she is especially kind to Lavender
• Poppet - another kitchen rat - he/she knows all the recipes cooked by Agatha
• Odine - a chicken 
• Samuel, Thomas, and Peter Portugal all ship's rats but none are able to complete the voyage with Lavender
• Michael - a boy who has been magically trapped in shell
• Captain Odyessia Pleasant - she is the captain of The Good Marchioness. One of her arms is a huge bird wing. "She was beautiful; a ragged scar across the left side of her face, from her lip to her missing ear, ... Captain Pleasant had a wing instead of a right arm. A large wing reached down almost to the floor, glowing coppery beneath the lanterns."
• Ginger - cat who can transform into a sailor
• Oliver de Basseterre - a baby
• The Princess with no name and her father the Wizard King
• Captain Barnabas Bloom - pirate and father to Michael. He is transformed into ... (sorry I can't tell you)
• Queniva - a sparrowhawk
• Crew - Sasha Blackhat; Jonas; Tiny Percival; Percy; Grimes and Savage
• Lyneham prisoner from the ship the pirates attacked and pillaged. (He is not to be trusted)
• The Little Duchess - Ghost-fetcher and her guardian The Dowager
• Princess Yasbel de la Esclera who has her named changed to Phillip - she has magical hair

Ships - Lady Eloise - a ghost ship which holds the spectral map; The Good Marchioness the ship carrying Lavender and others who need to break the curse; The Marigold which is the ship carrying the Princess to her betrothed and The Fair Fortune the ship of Captain Barnabas Bloom.

Recipes - all contain extra magic - I learned a new word or two in this book - ananas it's a pineapple and the word clapperdudgeon which means beggar.

Agatha calls the kitchen kids (all with boys names) rats but in fact she showers them with her love and enormous hugs. 

Text quotes:

"I never wanted to meet a ghost ship nor glimpse one from a distance. But I wanted to see the spell canister and its last spell resurrecting the princess and Michael out of the shell. I wanted Samuel and Peter and Octavius returned. I wanted everything restored, which meant me going home. I wanted more story. I wanted questions answered. I wanted to know how Captain Pleasant came to be cursed and how Ginger could turn into a cat."

"And I knew that I, Hans Whitby, previously of the pickling shelf, floor scrubber, potato peeler, spoon-shiner, still with the name of Lavender tucked safe inside me, magic porridge-stirrer, tender of wounds, meant for the sea, rescuer of prisoners and friend of a ghost-fetcher, with a tiny drop of blood from a cutlass upon my chest, climber of masts, was about to die."

This book is a huge saga - with nearly 400 pages and a myriad of characters and a complex plot. Young readers aged 10+ will need reading stamina and also plenty of time because I think you need to read this book over just two or three days so you can keep track of all the threads. I am speaking from experience because I read this book over five days in very small snatches and I kept having to turn back to previous scenes to follow all the twists and turns. There is the potential at the end of the story for a sequel but I actually hope Karen Foxlee does not continue her story and rather leaves the future adventures of young Lavender to our imaginations. 

You can find teachers notes on the publisher web page. Take a look at the labels I have assigned this post - these might give you further ideas about some of the themes (such as the importance of names and destinies) and these also hint at some major plot details.

A new book by Karen Foxlee is always something to celebrate and The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe is a wondrous and wonderful tale indeed, full of mystery and magic, inventive and memorable characters and a compelling protagonist. Story Links

This is a children’s book full of pirates and dangerous land and sea adventures. It is also a story of growing up and being there for others. It is about a growing awareness. Lavender was to learn that all of us are much more than what we first seem. We all have a tale within us. Even within the worst of us, goodness can be found. There are fair winds trapped within storms and even love hidden in bad spells. Queensland reviewer's collective

Blurb from author web page: Lavender Wolfe is a pickpurse, with a magical secret. She is all alone on a wharf when she is snatched by Big Agatha and thrown into the galley of the pirate ship, The Good Marchioness. Disguised as a boy (for only boys may live in the galley) and renamed Hans Whitby, Lavender has to make her home among the kitchen rats. However, The Good Marchioness is no ordinary no ordinary ship. Captained by Odyessia Pleasant, a fierce pirate with long blonde hair, violet eyes and a bird’s wing in place of an arm, the crew are on a desperate voyage – to find and return stolen treasure before all those who sail within the cursed pirate ship are turned to sand. Lavender included. Lavender is quick-witted and sharp as a tack, and as her magic starts to be revealed she finds herself coming under the arresting gaze of Captain Pleasant. Will Lavender help break the curse? Or will she be just another victim of this story within a story, her true identity lost to the sands of time? An adventure as big as the ocean and as warm as your heart. All aboard!

I do have to talk for a moment about pirate stories. Sadly, there are real pirates in our world we now call them people smugglers. A few of us have begun to re-think our picture books about pirates especially if members of your school community have come to Australia as refugees. Strangely I read another Australian middle grade novel with a pirate theme last month - Oceanforged my Amelia Mellior. The issue of pirates and of glorifying them in kids story books is one I need to ponder a little more deeply. This is not intended as a criticism of The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe it is just something to consider. 

Here is some further reading about this topic:

Sails and Souls: The Literary Evolution of Pirates from Simple Rogues to Morally Complex Heroes in Children’s Fiction

I am a huge fan of Karen Foxlee.  Take a look at these:

Lenny's Book of Everything

Dragon Skin (ages 11+)

A most magical girl

Ophelia and the marvelous boy

To Stir with Love by Kate Mildenhall illustrated by Jess Racklyeff

I am not very good at cooking, but I can make cakes, and this is all due to my mother taking the time to show me how - letting me do some steps at first and later watching me make the whole cake myself. Even now decades later I still hear her voice in my head explaining simple steps used for all cake making about sifting the flour, the speed of the beaters, and incorporating ingredients slowly. 

The little girl in this book is our narrator and she explains how every Monday she visits her grandmother and together they make a cake. 

"It's my everything cake. ... My grandmother's grandmother gave it to her and my grandmother gave it to me."

I was so pleased to see the recipe is included at the back of this book.  I am sure this book will be a 2025 CBCA Notable title in the Early Childhood category. The publisher site has an activity pack to use with this book. 

The wonderful watercolour illustrations sweep across every page, showing a Grandma’s garden with fruit trees, vegetable garden, and lots of different colours. ... I had a lovely time looking at the various older pieces of equipment used in Grandma’s kitchen: a whisk, flour sifter, hand beater, aprons, oven mitts, milk jug, tea pot etc. Read Plus

Real life photographs of the author’s family sit alongside creative colours and montages that transport us straight into the kitchen, where it feels like we’re literally holding cups of sugar and whipping the butter. There are textures and photos and little bits of flour wafting around that actually make one’s nose tickly. Kids' Book Review

For a list of other books about the relationship between a child and grandparent take a look at this post. Companion books:

The Forgettery

Grandma's Story

A Year in Fleurville

Wolfie's Secret

Mr Mornington's Favourite things by Karen George

Mr Mornington lives next door. Our narrator, a young girl, visits him through a gap in their hedge fence. She knows Mr Mornington likes gardening, cherry cake, his woolly hat and playing his saxophone. The friends share a love of music and when he plays his sweet tunes the little girl thinks of all her own favourite things - her cat, her mum, her friends, special shoes and socks and cherry cupcakes. 

Over time, though, it is clear Mr Mornington is beginning to forget things. He offers to teach the little girl so she can become the second-best saxophone player in the world but then he forgets, and he doesn't even tell them he is leaving. Sadly Mr Mornington has now moved into an aged care home.

Our little girl is not deterred however. She is given a small saxophone and she works hard and practices and when she and her mum go to visit they take cherry cake and music. Mr Mornington is sometimes sad but sometimes, there are glorious days, when he does remember some of the things that make him happy - his wife, his dog, music, cups of tea, his garden and cherry cupcakes. You can see these things and more on the book cover. And the cherry cake recipe is in the back of the book.

Karen George uses colour and white space to express emotion: when everything is great fun there’s not much space on the pages and she uses bright primary colours; when Mr Mornington has left, rather like the use of white space in John Burningham’s ‘Granpa’, the page is almost blank, the plants have shrivelled from lack of care and an empty cup lies upturned on the floor. But when Mr Mornington does occasionally remember his favourite things, there is a riot of flowers, slippers, gardening tools, the dog, his woolly hat, cherry cakes, the radio, a car and, of course, his saxophone. And the colour remains as the girl grows older and remembers her friend when she plays their favourite song for others. Just Imagine

I would pair this with Grace and Mr Milligan. You might also think of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. 

I also thought of sharing The Sound of Music song - My favourite things. 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells, and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells, and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

A Year in Fleurville by Felicita Sala

Recipes from balconies, rooftops and gardens.

In spring the people in Fleurville grow asparagus and then they make a delicious asparagus quiche. In Summer the cherries are ripe - time for a cherry clafoutis. High above the city peppers grow on a rooftop garden - perfect for those stuffed peppers. Now it is autumn and the pears are ripe. How about a plate of pear and ricotta pancakes.

My favourite pages in this scrumptious book come near the end where we see assorted seeds, gardening tools and a double spread of vibrant fruit and vegetables groups by seasons. 

Image source: Scribble Kids Books

A Year in Fleurville is the companion volume to Lunch at Pomegranate Street. These are two books that should be in every school library collection and I think they would be wonderful to also have in your home library collection. Read some review comments here. There are so many benefits that come from cooking with your child and even more joy if the cooking involves produce from your own garden - large or small. 

I love the illustrations in this book by Felicita Sala. She says "the illustrations in this book are made with watercolours, gouache and coloured pencils (with) hand lettering."

Here are some other books by Felicita:

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup by Andy Sagar

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a witch in possession of 

great magic must be in want of an apprentice."

When we first meet little Yesterday she is held in a cage in a circus where she is exhibited as a curiosity. Why is the child a curiosity? She was found as a baby outside the circus but that's not why. It is all about her strange appearance. She has ginger or pumpkin coloured hair, and pale silver skin. Yes that is curious but there's more. Yesterday has very strange ears. They look like the ears of a fox - pointed, reddish-brown and tipped with black. In the circus she has been named 'The Amazing Fox Girl' but in truth the cruel circus owners have no idea just how amazing she really is.

We are only up to page 6 in this story but I am sure you are bursting with questions. Who left this child at the circus? Why? Will she escape? What does her name mean? And how is she connected with the witch I mentioned in the quote above?

So Yesterday needs to be rescued. She needs to discover her talents and her heritage. Luckily Miss Dumpling, witch and tea shop owner, has found her. Hold on tea shop? Yes the Dimmerly End Teashop, established in 1756 where magic is priceless. If you have seen or read Howl's Moving Castle it will help you to imagine this marvellous teashop which can move from place to place. In this teashop magic is dispensed through cakes and tea - absolutely delicious cakes and wonderful, magical teas. 

Of course we need tension to give the story momentum. Just as she escapes from the circus, helped by the crow Madrigal, she meets an evil man named Mr Weep. When he asks her what is her heart's desire she cannot resist but by doing so she signs a deadly contract which will be enforced in exactly one month. 

Publisher blurb: Yesterday Crumb is no ordinary girl. She was born with fox ears that have cursed her to a lonely life working in the circus and her origins are a complete mystery. But she is about to escape into the adventure of a lifetime when she learns that she's a strangeling who's lost her magic. Taken in by Miss Dumpling the flamboyant Tea Witch, Yesterday is introduced to a magical, walking teashop filled with fantastical customers, a flying teapot turtle called Pascal and powerful spells in every teacup! Yesterday starts to rediscover her magic and to feel a sense of belonging. But a mysterious figure of darkness is working hard to ensure her new life comes crashing down - and it all starts with a deadly shard of ice in Yesterday's heart...

Yesterday Crumb will be published in March 2022 (Orion). I really enjoyed Yesterday Crumb and I read the whole book in one sitting (delicious). I recommend it for readers aged 10+ but I wonder will the cover appeal to them?  It does not appeal to me which is the main reason I gave this book four and not five stars (sorry to the designer of the cover). Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy. If my description above has enticed you to read this book please don't let the cover dissuade you. This is a debut novel for UK author Andy Sagar. There are two more books planned for this series. Astute readers will also enjoy the fun cross references in this book to famous classics such as Pride and Prejudice (see my quote above) and William Shakespeare. 

I was delighted to also be gifted a special tea bag with the advance copy of this book.  In the UK reviewers were given three specially-made teabags based on spells in the book that you can drink when the characters brew them! (and) A very festive letter written by Andy!

Companion reads:

A Tangle of Knots

The Courage of Cat Campbell

The Power of Poppy Pendle

Bliss

Madame Pamplemousse and her incredible edibles

A Mystery in the Forest by Susanna Isern illustrated by Daniel Montero Galán translated by Jon Brokenbrow

Deer follows his daily routine. He crosses the river and goes to an isolated part of the forest to collect seasonal produce - oranges, pears and apples in Winter; strawberries, cherries and apricots in Spring; blueberries, raspberries, plums and figs in Summer; and grapes, chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts in Autumn. Deer loves to cook and his neighbours enjoy the delicious smells wafting from his kitchen. 

When his cooking is complete, Deer shares his treats at a huge outdoor table with all of his forest friends.

"They share a snack, laugh, and chat until the sun sets, and the first crickets begin to chirp."

At this point you could stop reading this story and ask the question what will happen now? How will Susanna Isern make her story interesting? Can you think of a complication?

Someone has been watching Deer. When he reaches the forest on an Autumn morning he finds a scene of destruction and back at home it is clear he has been robbed - his secret recipe book is missing. Who is the thief? Why has this happened? And most importantly how should or will Deer react when he finds the culprit?

This lovely book about forgiveness shows that friendship can form even in the most unlikely situations. Kirkus star review

Susanna Isern is a writer, psychologist and mother of three. She is the author of over 60 children's books, which are available all over the world and have been translated into over a dozen languages. Susanna lives in Santander, Spain. Susanna Isern is a psychologist BUT even though this book has a "message" or moral it is done with such a light touch there is no sense that she was writing with an agenda or that she wanted to teach her young readers "a lesson". Take a look at this post about another of Susanna's books - The big book of Superpowers. You can see art by Spanish illustrator Daniel Montero Galan here. 

I would use Shelter by Celine Claire illustrated by Qin Leng as a companion read with A Mystery in the Forest.

A Mystery in the Forest (Spanish title Un misterio en el bosque) is the second book by Susanna Isern and Daniel Montero Galán in the series Whispers in the Forest. I am very keen to read the first:

Here are some other books by Susanna which I have added to my own "to read" list:

The Biscuit Maker by Sue Lawson illustrated bu Liz Anelli

Benedict Stanley lives alone. He observes his neighbourhood but no one stops to talk to him except for one small boy. The boy shows Benedict Stanley the space where his tooth fell out. That night Benedict Stanley makes some delicious biscuits to celebrate the arrival of the tooth fairy and he quietly places them on a nearby door step. Over the following days other people find biscuits delivered to their doors - shortbread for the triplets, choc-chip for the new neighbours, and football cookies to celebrate the grand final. One day, however, there are no biscuits. 

"Where is the biscuit maker?" "Maybe she's on holidays."

Word placement in a story is so important. Did you notice the word "she"? So much to discuss about assumptions.  

Here are some other words from The Biscuit Maker.

"One evening, an aching and snuffling Benedict Stanley shuffles to bed." 

"Rose petals fall and cabbages wilt."

Benedict Stanley is unwell and I can cope with that but the suggestion that it takes days, weeks or longer for the neighbours to realise he needs help almost made me cry. Rose petals fall and cabbages wilt! Thank goodness again for that small boy.

The emotional arc of this story also affected me. Benedict is deeply lonely; then he finds a joyous, albeit solitary, task baking that brings him happiness; things begin to change in the neighbourhood but Benedict becomes unwell; luckily people now recognise his generosity; they have started to talk to each other and so we watch this community light up as the people join together in a neighbourhood celebration.

Advice for authors often includes the phrase 'show don't tell'.   Benedict Stanley lives alone with only his cat Audrey Mae for company. Where is his wife? Why is he alone? What is the significance of the name 'Audrey Mae'?These ten words provide some of the answers:

"In his kitchen, Benedict Stanley reaches for his wife's recipe book."

It's terrific to see the recipe for basic biscuit dough is provided at the back of the book. Perhaps you could make some biscuits ready to enjoy when you read this book with a young child.  In Australia we use the word biscuit. Sue Lawson also uses the word cookie in her story perhaps cat cookies and football cookies sound better than cat biscuits and football biscuits. Just something to think about along with the American celebration of Halloween which in recent times is celebrated here in Australia even though the season is "wrong". Perhaps these inclusions give this book a wider audience beyond the shores of Australia.

Walker Books describe The Biscuit Maker:

• An important and topical book about how even in the midst of life on a busy street you can feel all alone.
• An inspirational title that demonstrates how simple acts of friendship can bring a community together.
• Demonstrates how the friendship between young children and the elderly members of a community can change lives.

Make sure you spend some time on the end papers which look a little like a street map. Liz Anelli is a master of collage. The cover is also very interesting - think about why we cannot see Benedict's face.

You could design a mini unit for a young Primary class on the importance of community using The Biscuit Maker and these other titles:

Jam by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Helen Craig

Tuesday Treasure

Mr and Mrs Castle live in a little house with their three children - Clement, Clarissa and Carlo.

"Three little Castles ... but very small ones - more like Cottages really."

Mrs Castle is a scientist and she has been asked to help with the development of an electronic medicine to cure sunspots.  This means Mr Castle will now look after the three children. He adopts a new 'househusband' routine.

He washed the dishes and then pegged them out to dry.
Not only did he sweep the floors he swept the ceilings too.
He vacuumed the carpets and put the dough to rise in a warm place ...
Planted a row of cabbages, folded the washing, baked the bread and a cake ...
Prepared dinner (and) read the paper so we to be well-informed.

One day there is a thump on the roof. The plums are ripe. Mr Castle sees this as a challenge. Not a single plum will go to waste. He makes pots and pots of jam and when the pots run out he fills their cups and glasses. Of course then they all need to eat this jam and so Mr Castle (his talents know no bounds) makes scones, roly poly, sponge cakes, pancakes and jam sandwiches. Some tiles lift in the bathroom so he uses jam to stick them down. Eventually all the jam is eaten. The kids and Mrs Castle have become quite sick of jam. It has filled their dreams and nightmares so they happily imagine all the delicious foods (without jam) that they can now enjoy. After all the jam eating the family are looking quite fat so Mr Castle suggests they enjoy a game of cricket outside before eating lunch.

"While they were playing on the lawn, Mr Castle heard a soft thud on the roof. He looked up at the plum tree enthusiastically. A year of jam eating had gone by. The plums were ripe again."

Margaret Mahy was a master storyteller. There are so many delightful little details in her stories. One of my favourites is  this book Jam illustrated by Helen Craig. I have read this book to library groups every year since it was first published in 1985. That means I have read this book aloud well over 100 times and yes it delights me every time.

Mahy and Craig make a smashing team. The colorful, detailed drawings convey the same humor and high spirits as the text. Kirkus

When you look at Margaret Mahy's books you will see many different illustrators - Steven Kellogg, Jonathan Allen, Polly Dunbar, Margaret Chamberlain, Sarah Garland, Shirley Hughes, and Helen Craig.  Helen Craig also illustrated The Pumpkin Man and the Crafty Creeper.

Margaret Mahy received the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006. The jury president said:

"In awarding the 2006 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Writing to Margaret Mahy, the jury has recognized one of the world's most original re-inventors of language. Mahy's language is rich in poetic imagery, magic, and supernatural elements. Her oeuvre provides a vast, numinous, but intensely personal metaphorical arena for the expression and experience of childhood and adolescence. Equally important, however, are her rhymes and poems for children. Mahy's works are known to children and young adults all over the world."

Here are some things I talk about when we read Jam:

What do you notice about the children's names?
Why were the children worried when Mrs Castle tells the family she is heading away to work?
Why did Mr Castle peg the dishes out to dry?
Compare the illustration on the first page with the illustration on the final page - what do you see?
What do you notice about the 'shape' of this story?
Let's make a list of the funny little details in the story that made you smile e.g. filling egg cups with jam.

Here is a video of jam making which we watch after taking time to explore some recipes using jam