The Magic Powder

Alice Kidd is an editor with The New Catalyst editorial collective in
Lillooet, B.C.

This simple fable accurately conveys some of the complex issues involved
with pesticide use. From the king’s understandable wish to help his
garden plants and get rid of nasty, unpleasant bugs and things, to the
inevitable results of widespread ill heath and disease in his kingdom,
the story is a believable one. We can only wish that our ecological
problems could be solved as easily.

The characters are also believable, and the colorful and detailed
illustrations make excellent supports for the text.

The Magic Powder would be a good choice to read with several youngsters
at once, because it would provide an opportunity for the kids to share
the things they have learned about living with nature. I especially
appreciated the postscript, which outlines the true story of pesticide
use without being overly alarmist.