A Recipe for Magic Potion

A powerfully delightful picture book about childhood play and the enduring magic of our natural world, with a hidden search-and-find narrative to thrill readers young and old!

To make a magic potion, you will need these things:
A friend (or two or three)
A bucket or a pot
Or a hole
And – ingredients. 

This dazzling story may seem like a set of instructions on how to brew a magic potion, the ingredients of which are familiar – mud, a leaf, some sand. But as the story unfolds, two children let their imaginations run wild as they take the reader on a glorious, lyrical journey outside.

Illustrator Natasja Horne's warm, lush exploration of the great outdoors will inspire and charm readers of all ages – and the most keen-eyed children will thrill at finding the mischievous pet lizard and other creatures on every glorious spread. Gorgeous, engrossing and unique, A Recipe for Magic Potion is a truly magical story that families will return to again and again. 

"Whimsically nostalgic" –Publishers Weekly

Perfect for:

• Toddlers and pre-school-aged children who love playing outdoors
• Children who love collecting sticks, stones and feathers
• Families who enjoy reading picture books with gentle adventure themes
• Gift-givers and educators looking for a picture book that children can enjoy alone or with a grown-up

'Kids cook up an elixir for youthfulness in this whimsically nostalgic picture book. Opening instructions emphasize the simplicity of the assignment: “To make a magic potion,/ you will need these things:/ A friend (or two or three)/ A bucket or a pot/ Or a hole/ And—ingredients.” The ensuing list of elements, secreted “all over the world,” lean on nature, from “a pinch of grass from a neighbour’s lawn” to “a rock from the water, cool to the touch.” With pale, earthy coloring, Horne’s smudgy, naif-style artwork zooms in and out of scenes featuring a pair of children relishing their outdoor explorations. The recipe’s final combination of stirs, words, and wishes produces the desired magic—a long-lasting sensorial memory that prompts gladdening reminiscences. Henseleit and Horne summon whimsical visions of imagination-fueled outdoor play. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3 and up.' –Publishers Weekly
Whimsically nostalgic Publishers Weekly
A long-lasting sensorial memory that prompts gladdening reminiscences. Publishers Weekly

Jack Henseleit is a children’s author from Ballarat, Victoria, whose favourite potion ingredients are pink eucalyptus blossoms, crystalised honeydew, and sand from under the clothesline. He is the author of The Witching Hours and Cross Bones series, as well as the non-fiction book Family Road Trip Games. A Recipe for Magic Potion is his eleventh book. 

Natasja Horne is a Dutch artist and illustrator who loves to create stories that help us find our way in life. Her work celebrates texture, shape and playful imperfections made by hand. Coloured pencils are her favourite tool, acrylic gouache a close second. She lives in Sydney with her husband, two children, a ball crazy French bulldog and three chickens.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.