The Magic Pudding: Being the Adventures of Bunyip Bluegum and His Friends

by Norman Lindsay

Book Overview

Hard to resist. -- The Horn Book MagazineWild and woolly, funny and outrageously fun. -- New York Review of BooksThere's nothing this Puddin' enjoys more than offering slices of himself to strangers,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1614272174
• ISBN13: 9781614272175
• Release Date: December 2011
• Publisher: Martino Fine Books
• Length: 138 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

The Australian Lewis Carroll?

This book is part of the wonderful new series of republished children's books from the New York Review of Books. Over 80 years old, "The Magic Pudding" describes the adventures of a koala bear, named Bunyip Bluegum - the kind of koala who wears a high collar and spats - who falls in with a crazy cowboy sort of fellow named Bill Barnacle and a penguin named Sam Sawnoff. Bill and Sam are possessed of a magic pudding (named Albert, if you can believe this), who regenerates every time you take a bite of him and changes into whatever flavor you like. Albert the pudding is much coveted by two evil villains who are constantly tricking our Heroes into giving up the Pudding, whereupon they must go and re-re-re-rescue it. The characters and style are very reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland," with Bunyip seeming a little White-rabbitish to me, and Bill and Sam sort of Mad Hatter and Dormouse-y. The effect is somewhere in between "Alice" and an old Loony Tunes in which Bugs Bunny constantly bewilders Elmer Fudd. The whole narrative is punctuated with many whimsical song lyrics, like the poetry in Carroll's book. The lyrics make it a great read-aloud for the younger set, although older kids might be a bit puzzled by its style. However, everyone will be charmed by the Pudding himself and want one of their very own.

Like Roald Dahl's books? You'll love The Magic Pudding.

The Magic Pudding is a fun-and-nonsense tale that has become my nine-year-old son's favorite book. It deserves to be published in the US so that American children can enjoy what has become a classic in Australian children's literature. If you enjoy Roald Dahl's books, "The Phantom Tollbooth," and "Alice in Wonderland" you'll enjoy this.

A magically funny story

Bunyip Bluegum the Koala leaves home because he can't stand the sight of his uncle's whiskers in the soup any more. He meets Barnacle Bill the sailor and Sam Sawnoff the penguin, who own a remarkable pudding. Every time you cut a slice from the pudding, another one grows in its place, you can eat as much as you like, the pudding lasts forever. What's more, you can change the pudding to any kind you like, it can be steak and kidney or plum duff or jam roly poly. The pudding is apt to get discontented and starts complaining if it isn't eaten enough. Such a desirable pudding is naturally at constant risk from pudding thieves, and the three friends have their work cut out trying to outwit the sneaky Possum and Wombat who are always trying to steal it. This is a very funny story with lots of action and a great many fights, it should appeal to anyone who likes humorous fantasy.

It's Short, Sweet, and an Overall Great Choice!

I first discovered "The Magic Pudding" when I was in fourth grade. I found it amid a bunch of books given to me by my grandparents. I read it for a school free choice reading project, and since then I must have re-read it over 10 times. It is just a phenomenal book. It has none of that "Harry Potter" commercialism and is 30 times better to boot. It is whimsical, fantastical, funny, exhilarating, and overall joyful to read. It is a short book - I had my friend read it on a short plane flight, and he loved it - but it is absolutely amazing.

A work of genius, for children of all ages!!

A wonderfully witty study of the Australian character, seen through the eyes of Bunyip Bluegum, the koala, and his rough-and-ready travelling companions Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff (and of course Albert, their Magic Pudding). Set at the beginning of the 20th century, it pokes fun at pomposity and stupidity, is marvellously literate and gloriously illustrated, and its humour is multi-layered. Lindsay had the great gift of entertaining his adult readers without talking over the heads of his younger readers. Read it aloud!!!