The Little Possum who Looked Up by Kim Maslin

Book Review

A short overview of this book

The Little Possum who Looked Up by Kim Maslin is a lovely book that is useful for managing screen time with kids.

It’s useful for starting conversations about the importance of balancing the use of digital devices. And at the back, you’ll find some questions that you can use to further the conversation.

As parents, we know all too well about how hard it can be to explain to kids that too much screentime isn’t a good thing. And books like this can help with starting the conversation, as well as to help with getting the message across.

It tells the lovely story of a possum who wants some help with a pro

Kim also has some other books as well, The Tweeting Galah and The Surfing Penguin.

You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 4 to 7 years.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of The Little Possum who Looked Up by Kim Maslin from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. Today, I want to talk about a fantastic book called The Little Possum Who Looked Up by Kim Maslin. Now, Kim is an Australian teacher who has written a whole series of books about internet safety and cyber safety. And let me tell you, these books are invaluable!

What I love about Kim’s books is that she uses lots of Australian animals in her stories. It’s a great way to engage kids and make the lessons even more relatable. In this particular book, we follow the story of a possum who spends too much time on her iPad. Sound familiar? She’s doing research for school, but then she looks up at the sky and realizes there’s a whole world out there beyond the screen.

The possum decides she wants to go to the moon and starts building a spaceship. But she needs help, and that’s where her family comes in. Now, let’s be honest, sometimes we parents get so caught up in our own work that we don’t always pay attention to our kids. But this story reminds us of the importance of being present and spending quality time together.

The book also highlights how everyone in the possum’s family is engrossed in their own online activities. We’ve got mom working, granny clicking and flicking, sister surfing the web, dad ordering food (hello, Uber Eats!), and even Uncle Burra watching cricket. It’s a funny and relatable portrayal of how we can all get a little too absorbed in our devices.

But here’s the turning point: when the possum pulls the router out of the wall, cutting off the internet, suddenly everyone starts paying attention. They realize they’ve been spending too much time on their screens and ignoring each other. Together, they decide to find a better balance and actually spend time together as a family.

I think this book is a great tool for starting conversations with our kids about screen time and finding that balance. We all know how common it is to see people walking down the street or sitting on the bus with their faces glued to their screens. But there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored!

Kim even includes some thought-provoking questions at the end of the book to help extend the conversation with your kids. It’s a wonderful way to explore their thoughts and opinions on screen time and how they can find a healthier balance.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and engaging book to teach your kids about media literacy and the importance of balancing screen time, I highly recommend The Little Possum Who Looked Up. It’s a great addition to the many conversations we need to have about staying safe online.

I hope that makes sense and that you find this book as helpful as I do. Cheers!

Need a better plan for the sex talk?
Sign up for my parent newsletter and I'll show you an easier way to talk to your kids about sex!
Featured Image

About The Author

Scroll to Top