It’s Blossom Possum’s birthday, and she’s far too excited to sleep!
Using goodies from the Aussie bush—gumnuts, wattle seeds, lilly pilly berries and witchetty grubs—she makes a delicious birthday treat so share with her friends: a Gumnut Man stuck together with sweet and chewy wattle gum. But just as she was about to take a bite, Gumnut Man springs up and runs away!
Joined by her bush buddies Rocky Cocky, Toey Joey, Echo Gecko, Trilby Bilby and Okka Quokka, they go on a chase. But the Gumnut Man is too fast... until he meets By-jingo Dingo by the river.
Full of rhyme, rhythm, and onomatopoeia, Blossom Possum and the Gumnut Man is an Aussie twist on a classic tale full of suspense and humour with an unexpected yet satisfying ending.
Author:
Gina Newton is a multi-award-winning children’s book author and passionate about the conservation of Australia’s wildlife. She trained as a marine biologist, zoologist, and science communicator. A graduate of Master Classes with renowned authors Fiona McIntosh and the late, great Bryce Courtenay, Gina lives in Canberra with her two young adult children and many pets.
Illustrator:
Growing up on the coast with the sound of waves and seabirds as her backdrop, Nandina Vines has been creating stories and pictures for as long as she can remember. She wrote, illustrated and compiled her very first children’s book at just nine years old, sparking a lifelong passion for storytelling through art. Now living in the beautiful rural Hunter Valley, she draws inspiration from the bush, wildlife, and peaceful rhythms of nature. Her love of animals and the outdoors shines through in every joyful, whimsical illustration she creates
* llustrator Nandina Vines to bring Blossom Possum’s third story to life. In Blossom Possum and the Gumnut Man readers meet Blossom Possum on a very special day – her birthday.
* The first Blossom Possum picture book (Blossom Possum: The Sky Is Falling Down Under, 2006, Scholastic) has sold over 150,000 copies and is still in print, which demonstrates a strong fan-base and longevity.
* The first Blossom Possum story was widely adapted in primary schools as a class play, and Blossom Possum and the Gumnut Man would similarly be popular with schools and for adaptation as a school play.
* Given the level of rhyme, rhythm and onomatopoeia, the book is an enjoyable read-along story with predictable elements for children, and also represents a useful text for literacy and speech pathology purposes.
Publicity:
* With over 150,000 copies sold of the first Blossom Possum picture book, author Gina Newton is a respected voice in Australian children’s books. Having received wide acclaim and awards for her previous books, the author’s reputation, media experience and established networks provide a powerful platform for publicity and engagement across Australia and internationally.
