Possum and the Summer Storm

March 1, 2018
Last appearing in Possum and the Peeper (1998), Possum finds himself homeless in his newest adventure.As a summer storm approaches, Possum gathers his baby possums into their home in their brush pile, which is soon washed away, leaving Possum floating in the flooded creek with his children clinging to his back. From their perch in a tree, Possum assures his children they'll find a new one, although there is nary a brush pile to be seen. Discovering Possum's homeless state, a chipmunk helps the little ones dig a burrow on higher ground, but Possum can't fit into its entrance. After hearing about Possum's dilemma, Muskrat shows him how to construct a lodge with cattails and mud above the chipmunk burrow. When a wasp adds windows crafted from chewed wood and saliva and an oriole weaves swinging nests from grasses and vines, Possum soon has "the most beautiful home in the world!" Despite Possum's dire situation, the text remains calm, reassuring, and upbeat. Illustrations in delicate, crosshatched pen-and-ink lines and watercolor washes move from atmospheric storm sequences in which wide-eyed Possum and his adorable babies watch rising water wash them and their home downstream to fascinating close-ups of animals working industriously together above- and belowground. Possum weathers disaster in this gentle, charmingly illustrated, oh-so-timely tale. (Picture book. 4-7)

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March 12, 2018
When Possum and his three children lose their brush pile home during a storm, they go searching for a new one. Carrying the babies on his back, Possum—who demonstrates emotions of fear, surprise, and uncertainty through his widening eyes—meets other woodland animals throughout the flooded landscape, and each offers to help. A chipmunk digs them a home, but the entrance is too small for Possum. Next, Muskrat “showed the possums how to build a dome of reeds and mud over the burrow that the chipmunk had helped them dig.” Even a wasp helps out by making “a comb of chewed wood and saliva,” and a bird builds them a hammock-style nest. The juxtaposition of architectural elements might sound strange, but the result is elegant and lovely. The variety of friendly animals more than willing to lend assistance calls to mind how human communities come together following a natural disaster. Ages 4–7.

April 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-When a storm washes away Possum's family home, animal friends pitch in to help them build a new one. The first attempt at a new house by Chipmunk proves to be too small, but works as a basement. Next Muskrat shows them how to build a lodge. Oriole even teaches them how to make a nest for a bed. When another storm comes, the friends seek shelter in the home they helped create. Rich vocabulary can be found throughout the text. For example, when Wasp offers assistance she says, "I can make a comb of chewed wood and saliva. It might make nice windows." Illustrations are sweet and comforting. On the opening page when a dark storm cloud hovers, one of the baby possums has an acorn cap for a hat. Text and illustrations work well in conveying the opening mood. "Thunder crashed. Wind howled. The possum family watched as the creek rose." Illustrations mostly in blues and greens show the movement of the water and rustling of plants on the bank as the possum family looks on. The animals look serious, but the book is not scary. VERDICT A charming story about resilience, friendship, and animal architecture. This will work well in a group setting or as a single share.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

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