Illus. in full color. "While Granny is a-rockin' and a-knittin' and Ma's a-cookin' and Pa's a-fixin', that old possum in his top hat and vest just keeps on knocking. The narrator, a redheaded boy, tries to tell family members about the possum, and when the family checks, the possum hides. Should be popular with story-hour groups."--Booklist.
A child climbs five different trees, looking for a place to hide and finding an increasing number of animals already in residence, until finally the perfect tree is found.
Fans of E.B. White and Dick King-Smith will adore this heartwarming and funny animal adventure by the award-winning author of New York Times Bestseller Counting by 7s Mama has trained up her baby possums in the ways of their breed, and now it’s time for all of them—even little Appleblossom—to make their way in the world. Appleblossom knows the rules: she must never be seen during the day, and she must avoid cars, humans, and the dreaded hairies (sometimes known as dogs). Even so, Appleblossom decides to spy on a human family—and accidentally falls down their chimney! The curious Appleblossom, her faithful brothers—who launch a hilarious rescue mission—and even the little girl in the house have no idea how fascinating the big world can be. But they're about to find out! With dynamic illustrations, a tight-knit family, and a glimpse at the world from a charming little marsupial's point of view, this cozy animal story is a perfect read-aloud and a classic in the making.
Ask me my name? Want me to play? Call on me in class? I say nothing and hope no one will see me. I call that playing possum. It's my way of being shy. Blossom wants to speak up in class, and she wants to spend time with friends at lunch and at recess. She also loves to jam on her flute, make glitter glam headbands, and recite poetry... but you might not know that, because Blossom is also very shy! She wants to participate in school and with friends, but whenever she tries, she freezes up and plays possum instead. And playing possum is not the best way to make friends! With some gentle encouragement from her peers and her music teacher, Blossom learns that taking risks usually isn’t as bad as she fears, and can have a big payoff. She might still be shy, but she’s getting better at putting herself out there and having fun. Includes a Note to Parents and Other Caregivers by Julia Martin Burch, PhD, with more information on the cognitive-behavioral strategies Blossom uses to cope with shyness and ways to encourage your own shy child.
Possums may steal your garbage…but with this book, they’ll also steal your heart! Possums are more than the ugly-cute icons of the internet. These so-called trash animals and pointy kitties are not only relatable avatars for anxious but resilient people everywhere, but nature’s secret clean-up crew. Organized around common myths that have given possums a bad reputation, this fun and offbeat book reveals the truth about possums through dozens of adorable photos, informative illustrations, and fascinating facts. Did you know that… • Possums protect people and pets from disease! A single possum can eat up to 4,000 ticks per week! • Possums excel at interspecies friendships, often sleeping in other animals’ dens. • Possums are shy creatures: when they “play dead,” they are actually fainting from anxiety! Written by wildlife rehabber and possum advocate Ally Burguieres, known for her popular Instagram account @ItsMeSesame, this accessible and giftable guide explains why possums deserve our admiration and offers tips on how we can protect and advocate for these magical marsupials.
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book From highly acclaimed author Jenkins and Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator Blackall comes a fascinating picture book in which four families, in four different cities, over four centuries, make the same delicious dessert: blackberry fool. This richly detailed book ingeniously shows how food, technology, and even families have changed throughout American history. In 1710, a girl and her mother in Lyme, England, prepare a blackberry fool, picking wild blackberries and beating cream from their cow with a bundle of twigs. The same dessert is prepared by an enslaved girl and her mother in 1810 in Charleston, South Carolina; by a mother and daughter in 1910 in Boston; and finally by a boy and his father in present-day San Diego. Kids and parents alike will delight in discovering the differences in daily life over the course of four centuries. Includes a recipe for blackberry fool and notes from the author and illustrator about their research.
A funny, finger-wagging rhyme with some very good advice: never tease a weasel, because teasing isn't nice! Rather, kids should do nice things for animals, such as bake a drake a cake, or give a mule a pool, and much more. Long out of print, this new edition of Never Tease a Weasel with art by the great New Yorker cartoonist George Booth will surely please a weasel, and everyone else who reads it!
Little Baby Bobby, who lives on a hill, just can't seem to sit still. So it's inevitable that, in the blink of an eye, his baby buggy goes careening down that hill with his babysitter in frantic pursuit. Whizzing through the park, scattering street vendors' wares, crashing into a fire hydrant, there goes Baby Bobby, enjoying every minute of his wild buggy ride. A perfect read-aloud reminiscent of Nancy Van Laan's "Possum Come a-Knockin', this rollicking, rhythmic text gathers momentum as Baby Bobby's buggy wends its way through the town. Laura Cornell's hilarious, overflowing illustrations perfectly capture the lighthearted joy of Bobby's raucous romp. A laugh-out-loud addition to any story hour!
At the direction of her lazy husband, elderly Mary must make preparations for the winter months in a frenzied crescendo of activity - bottling fruit, oiling snowshoes, pickling vegetables, chopping firewood and salting hams. Erik Blevgad's glorious watercolours perfectly capture Bodecker's unique wordplay. We see Mary becoming redder faced and more dishevelled with every task completed, until her exasperation at her husband's orders spill over into delightful revenge at the end of the story.