Title : Review: Possum Tragic
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Review: Possum Tragic
Some families have welcomed the spooky fun with open arms, while others remain less enchanted by the parade of plastic pumpkins cobwebs and American-style excess.
For MelbourneStyle creator Maree Coote, however, the bigger concern is what all that excess leaves behind.
The award-winning illustrator, author and designer is renowned for her quirky and ingenious typographic picture books, including Spellbound: Making Pictures with the A-B-C, Animology and Alphabeasts.
More recently, Maree has delved into the creation of searing yet sensitive commentaries on Australian culture, such as Azaria: A True History.
In Possum Tragic: A Tale of Pumpkins and Plastic she continues her exploration of culture, this time turning her attention to ideas of invasion and pollution, and the meaningless waste that comes with holidays such as Halloween. It is a ghoulish tale told from the perspective of one of Australia’s much-loved critters, the possum.
Referring to humans simply as 'The Neighbours', the possum tells its own Halloween horror story, exposing our fascination with the holiday and the inevitable commercialism that comes with it. Along the way, Coote touches on issues including copyright, child labour and big business, tracing a trail of plastic waste from the possum’s suburban neighbourhood all the way to the ocean, where it continues to impact wildlife and the environment.
The kids saw the rubbish from down at the beach,
They'd had no idea just how far it could reach.
An iceberg of junk could be seen from the shore
And deep underneath, you just knew there was more.
The heavy-hitting message is deftly balanced with jaunty rhyming text and colourful, richly detailed illustrations for children to pore over. Maree never loses sight of her audience, delivering an important environmental message without tipping into preachiness. Instead, the story invites the opportunity for big discussions about consumption, waste and the impact our celebrations can have on the natural world around us.
Part cautionary tale, part visual feast, Possum Tragic is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Title: Possum Tragic: A Tale of Pumpkins & Plastic
Author/Illustrator: Maree Coote
Publisher: MelbourneStyle Books, $29.99
Publication Date: June 2026
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780645910612
For ages: 6+
Type: Picture Book
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