Sally Morgan (text), Jess Racklyeft (illus), The Midnight Possum, Omnibus Books/Scholastic Australia, April 2016, 24pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781742991047
I read Sally Morgan’s wonderful book My Place many years ago and it left a lasting impression, so I was very excited to review her picture book The Midnight Possum. It tells the story of a possum who helps reunite a mother possum with one of her twin babies through a dangerous mission that involves falling down a chimney into a house.
Sally Morgan has crafted a book that is a delight to read aloud with phrases such as “… down a bumpy bark trunk to the damp ground, across the prickly, tickly grass to a flowering forest red gum.” The text is beautifully supported by interesting illustrations that evoke the muted colours of Australia’s bush. Apart from possums, there are many other unique Australian animals to spot throughout the book, adding to the visual appeal.
Reviewed by Jane Carstens