{"product_id":"appleblossom-the-possum-isbn-9780147512802","title":"Appleblossom the Possum","description":"\u003cb\u003eFans of E.B. White and Dick King-Smith will adore this heartwarming and funny animal adventure by the award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Bestseller \u003ci\u003eCounting by 7s\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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.\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eAppleblossom the Possum\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Readers will enjoy both the realistic details of a newborn possum making her way to her mother's pouch, and the fanciful view of adult possums' urban nightlife, complete with rooftop music and a conga line. . . . This attractive book will engage young readers intrigued by animals.\"—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Insights about possums add an educational element to this otherwise comic adventure, while humorous illustrations capture the wee possums' antics and personalities. A warm and funny possum-family saga.\"—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A perfectly sweet animal tale, with just the right blend of humor, excitement, and uncertainty.\"—\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Amid the homey message that family matters most, Sloan seeds the story with assorted possum facts and vocabulary lessons, but it's the possum-as-actor metaphor . . . that generates the most fun.\"—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003eHolly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and spent her childhood living in Holland, Istanbul, Turkey, Washington DC, Berkeley, California and Eugene, Oregon. After graduating from Wellesley College and spending some time as an advertising copywriter, she began writing family feature films, including \u003ci\u003eAngels in the Outfield\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eMade in America\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003ci\u003eCounting by 7s\u003c\/i\u003e, her first middle-grade novel, was a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Bestseller. The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband, who is the illustrator of this book, in Santa Monica, California.\u003cb\u003eChapter 2 \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eThe babies of a first-time possum mother must have names that begin with the letter \u003ci\u003eA\u003c\/i\u003e. This explains to half sisters and half brothers, cousins and aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other relatives how they each fit into their own possum family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Second-batch babies (according to possum tradition) use the letter \u003ci\u003eB\u003c\/i\u003e. Not many possum mothers reach \u003ci\u003eG,\u003c\/i\u003e but there's a clan on the edge of the city dump that claims enough litters for the babies to have \u003ci\u003eZ\u003c\/i\u003e names. There are rumors that they skipped ahead and there's no way of knowing for sure, but it's a fact that there is a group of possums at the dump named Zeke and Zack and Zelda and Zoe and Zita and Zalman and Zehra and Zeus and Ziggy, which makes them very, very special.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The A-babies recently born under a rotten log in the middle of a cold night live in their mother's pouch on a lifeline of liquid food. Their eyes open, their fur grows, and so do their bodies.\u003cbr\u003e Two months later they are strong enough to be out in the world. Mama Possum is a free thinker and she encourages her babies to find their own names. So far there is an Antonio and an Alisa. Plus Abdul and Ajax and Alberta and Angie and Allan and Alphonse and Atticus and Alejandro and Augusta.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And there is an Amlet (he wanted to be named Hamlet, but he wasn't an H-baby). But the last one to enter the pouch, the littlest possum that almost didn’t make it to safety, still has no name.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She is seventy-seven days old and must learn possum life, which means she is taking acting lessons. The other possums watch as she wiggles around on a patch of dirt. She's rehearsing being a snake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum, who is a natural theater director, instructs her: \"Your tail looks believable. But you need to feel more like a snake in your body. Move from the inside.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The littlest possum raises her hand. Her question isn't about technique; while squirming, she has gotten distracted. That happens to her a lot. \"I want everyone to know that there's something hatching above us on the tree,\" she says.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Antonio calls out, \"Those are apple blossoms. And they don’t hatch. They’re flowers.\" Antonio has answers. Hes just a natural born thinker.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her brother Ajax starts to laugh. But not in a good way. \"She thinks a flower is alive! \u003ci\u003eShe's\u003c\/i\u003e an apple blossom.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Alberta giggles. \"No, she’s not!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum claps her hands together and that signals that it's time to take a break, or at the very least that Ajax should watch his mouthy attitude. But the littlest possum doesn't mind. She knows what Ajax said was meant as an insult, but she likes the way the word sounds: Appleblossom. She raises her voice so that they can all hear: \"Today I take the name Appleblossom.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No one answers. So she adds, \"Don't try calling me Allison.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ajax sputters, \"We won’t.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And from that moment on, she is Appleblossom the possum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt isn't long before the break is over and it's time to return to theater class. Appleblossom is happy that it's another possum's turn. Her eyes focus on her sister Angie. She doesn't have to be a snake. She's more advanced and she's doing a scene with Amlet. All of the possums are quiet. This is a very dramatic scene and Angie is a very dramatic possum. She puts her hand to her forehead and moans, \"No. No. The drink! Oh, my dear Amlet. The drink, the drink. I am poisoned.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angie falls to the ground. Her breathing slows to next to nothing. Then her neck stiffens, her arms and legs extend straight out, and her tongue rolls from her mouth. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom is horrified, but Mama Possum claps and the rest of the group cheer. There's nothing these possum babies like more than to celebrate a worthy performance. And this is an excellent death scene!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom's voice quivers with concern: \"Are you sure Angie's okay? She really doesn't look good. Maybe we should check on her.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The smallest possum turns away. She has tears in her eyes. Mama tries to comfort her as she explains that \"acting\" is a vital part of being a possum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But none of them has any idea why.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 3\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePossums are born into darkness and they stay that way.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They are, as the thinker Antonio says, \"nocturnal.\" And nocturnal things sleep during the day and are awake at night. There is a whole world of creatures that only appear when the sun goes down, and that means that the darkness is very much alive. Lots of birds, along with the small mice in the fields and the rats that creep out of the clumps of ivy and heaps of trash, are also nocturnal.\u003cbr\u003e So are the bushy-tailed raccoons that come down from the hills after the sun sinks into the horizon. Skunks sleep until nightfall unfolds, snuggled underneath porches, or concealed behind rusty gardening tools stacked in the corner of backyards. Many types of spiders emerge from cracks in the bark of trees or the undersides of outdoor furniture only when the sky has gone dark.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bats take to the air. Moths and black beetles edge away from the camouflage of mottled branches and pitted fences. Enterprising badgers squeeze out from openings behind trash cans and stacks of firewood. Deer hop over fences, entering yards to eat rosebushes and the newly green tops of hedges. Crickets and toads and frogs open their mouths and call out to announce the arrival of darkness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But not one of these nocturnal animals is like a possum. Because as Mama Possum explains, \"None of the other creatures are \u003ci\u003emarsupials\u003c\/i\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When they first hear this news, all of the possum babies cheer. Alberta starts a chant: \"WE ARE MARSUPIALS! WE ARE MARSUPIALS! WE ARE MARSUPIALS!\" All of the baby possums join in, and they make a \u003ci\u003epossumid,\u003c\/i\u003e which is a pyramid of possums. The cheering goes on for some time before Appleblossom stops to ask: \"But what \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e a marsupial?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The other babies fall silent. Even Antonio, who knows a lot because he likes to investigate, doesn't have this answer. Mama Possum explains: \"Marsupials have pouches where their babies live after they are born. Kangaroos and koala bears are marsupials.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amlet is confused. \"What’s a kangaroo or a koala bear?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum's long nose twitches. It does that when she's uncertain. \"They don't live around here.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom suddenly worries that the kangaroos and koala bears might be lost and need help. She asks, \"Should we try to find the other marsupials?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum's ears point skyward in alarm. \"No. Absolutely not! You should try to find snails, earthworms, eggs in nests, and fallen apples. Our job is clear. We spend our time digging for beetles and ant colonies. When that doesn't work, we sniff out birdfeeders stocked with seed. We do our best to remove chicken bones from trash cans and the uneaten remains from sticky wrappers flung to the ground. We are hunters, yes, but we are also great scavengers! We are the cleanup crew that comes in after the mess. And speaking of messes, there is no better place than a football field after a big game. Or at least that’s what I’ve heard. We are \u003ci\u003eneighborhood\u003c\/i\u003e possums. This is our area. I've never actually been to a stadium parking lot after a sporting event, but from the chatter I hear, there’s nothing like it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Antonio raises his hand. He's just had an epiphany, which is like saying a light went off in his mind—but because they live in darkness, this is more like saying the shadows got bigger and so did his understanding.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum looks pleased with her clever possum baby. \"Yes, Antonio?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Being scavengers explains why we have so many teeth. With all the different food sources, we need a full jaw to grind the grub.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Murmurs of \"grind the grub\" circulate among the possum babies. They like the way it sounds. Mama Possum beams with happiness. \"This is true, Antonio!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom points one of her fingers up into the sky and waits for her turn. Mama nods to her. \"Go ahead, Appleblossom.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The littlest possum takes a moment to collect her thoughts. What she wants to say feels very important. \"Having a full jaw means that we have great smiles!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom thinks she hears sneezing behind her. But when she turns around, Allan's making a crazy face, and Alberta and Alisa are laughing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum stops the commotion. \"Thank you for sharing, Appleblossom. Now I’m off to find our next meal. You possums stay together right here and do your improvisational exercises. I'm going to have each one of you stage something for me very soon. Remember, whatever you do, you have got to be convincing. Use your imagination! That's the key to a great performance.\" \u003cbr\u003e And with that, Mama Possum disappears into an overgrown hedge and leaves her thirteen babies to rehearse. They are hopeful that she’ll come back dragging a piece of rotten fruit or a paper sack with the remains of cold, greasy French fries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Either option would be a truly tasty delight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 4\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey are nomads.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Or as Mama Possum explains: \"Ours is a road show. At the end of every few nights we find a new sleeping spot. Some are better than others, but don’t even think about hanging your hat and calling\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eany place \u003ci\u003ehome\u003c\/i\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom wonders what that means, because they don’t wear hats, although she would like to.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now that they are out of the pouch, they travel on their mother's back whenever they relocate. All thirteen of them. And this always happens when the sun goes down. Mama Possum has rules, but one is more important than all the others put together. This one rule cannot be broken. Ever.\u003cbr\u003e It's called bedtime.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nothing matters more than following her exact instructions when Mama Possum says that it's time to burrow under a log, squeeze into a drainpipe, or slide under a seldom-used barbeque. When the sun starts to change the color of the dark sky to something close to a ripe plum, they know that they need to disappear.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bodies safely hidden.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Then wide eyes shut.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e All the nocturnal animals do the same thing. They vanish from view. The raccoons return to the hills. The bats find hollows in trees and rocks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The skunks slip away like magicians. The beetles and the moths simply stop moving. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum's knowledge has been passed down from possum to possum. Now it's her turn to be a teacher. Darkness fully falls, and her babies, awake again, huddle in a circle. Her brood is three months old when she reveals her most important information: \"We are awake only at night because when the sun is out, \u003ci\u003emonsters rule the world\u003c\/i\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amlet was the last one to stop sucking his thumb, and now he can't help himself. He puts his whole hand in his mouth, but not before saying, \"\u003ci\u003eMonsters?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e Mama Possum tries to make her voice sound comforting, even though what she says isn't: \"Yes. Now, there are three kinds of monsters, and all three kinds are terrifying. They are present at night, but they really own the day.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom’s brothers and sisters move closer to one another as Mama Possum continues: \"The first kind of monster is made of metal. They have wheels and bright eyes when they are out after dark. These eyes are blinding.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Antonio interrupts. \"We've heard the metal monsters before. They are loud!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum nods. \"Yes, Antonio, the metal monsters roar. And honk. And they move very, very fast. They can flatten an animal in an instant if one gets in the way.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom can't even think about something so frightening. She tries to close her ears, but it isn't like closing her eyes. She can still hear her mother's voice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"The metal monsters are called cars and trucks. The ones that live around here only go on certain paths. Some of these paths, ones far from here, are so wide and so filled with cars and trucks that at night they look like ribbons of white and red light. Only a fool would ever go near those huge metal monster paths. Only a fool, or someone with no other option.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom promises herself to always stay away from the wide monster paths. Antonio makes a comment. \"But the cars sleep. And then they are harmless as boulders. You've taken us near a car when its chest was cold and its eyes were dark.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum rubs her hands together. \"Yes, this is part of what you must learn. When is a car awake and when is it asleep?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom raises her hand. \"So what we need to know is what wakes them up?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It takes Mama Possum a long time to answer. Her nose twitches and then she finally says, \"The second kind of monster has formed an alliance with the cars and trucks. So our understanding of both enemies is important. The monsters work together. The \u003ci\u003esecond\u003c\/i\u003e monster wakes up the first.\"\u003cbr\u003e Amlet follows with, \"What’s the second kind of monster?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom asks, \"What’s an alliance?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum steadies herself. \"Now is as good a time as ever to spill the beans.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Allan looks around. \"What beans?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amlet gives him a small kick. \"It's a saying, Allan. It means she's telling us the whole story.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Allan looks disappointed. \"Oh. I like beans. Especially the dark ones that have spicy sauce.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Suddenly Appleblossom is very, very frightened. Mama Possum wraps her long tail around Appleblossom and pulls her close. \"The second category of scary creatures walks on two feet. They smell like dead flowers, salt, and grease. Everything scares them. They are always angry. And they don't have tails.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not having tails seems very sad to the babies. Angie shakes her head. She is dramatic and is acknowledged now as being the best performer of the group. She strikes her signature pose, which is a hand to her forehead, as she wails, \"An animal without a tail is so sad.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e At her side Alisa adds, \"Maybe that’s why they are angry.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Whispers of \"so sad\" and \"angry\" buzz throughout the group. Mama Possum waits until they've quieted down and then continues. \"The second monsters are called people. The people cover themselves in layers of cloth because they have very little fur. They scream when they see a night creature. They are noisy and unpredictable. They are dangerous, and not very smart, believe me!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e All of the possum babies stare at their mother. It's clear they do believe her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Now, the people don't like to share. That is their biggest problem. So they set traps, and they use weapons and poison. They are sneaky and mean. But the good part is that most of the time they don't climb trees at night. Or go into hedges or dig holes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sighs of relief come from the babies. And they are big sighs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum adds: \"The people are awake for part of the night, but they go into their houses and stare at boxes there.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom is confused. \"What kind of boxes?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum's eyes narrow. \"The boxes have light and sound, and the people watch these contraptions for hours. Some of the light boxes hang on the walls of the houses. Some are just off the ground. And others are held right in their hands.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Antonio waves his tail. \"I think the light boxes might be telling the monsters what to do.\"\u003cbr\u003e Mama Possum looks as if she's giving this idea some thought, but the discussion is over and no one objects when she says, \"We've had enough for one night.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom can't fall asleep after her mother's Big Talk. The world's a scary place, and she needs to learn so much to stay safe. She isn't sure that she's up to the job. Her acting skills aren't as advanced as her brothers' and sisters'. She doesn't have any special talents like dancing or singing or speaking with an accent. She’s good at smelling night-blooming jasmine, and watching the bats swirl in the dark sky as they circle the streetlight. She’s good at observing the world. Does that count?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In the distance, the sun edges up over the treetops and Appleblossom feels her tail tremble. Her whole family is hidden in a mildewy umbrella that's on its side in a garden not far from where she now realizes people live. At a distance on one of the paths is a car. It isn't moving. But that doesn't make her feel any better.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom squeezes her eyes shut and tries to make the bad thoughts go away, when Antonio whispers, \"Appleblossom, I’m awake.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom whispers back: \"I'm afraid.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Me too,\" he says. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A few moments later, another voice says, \"I'm not afraid, but I can't sleep either.\" It's Amlet. Appleblossom wonders if he's just acting brave right now or if he's being truthful. He's a very good actor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom doesn't want to cry; she might wake everyone up. Or worse, she might wake up a monster. \"So what do we do?\" she asks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Antonio whispers back to her, \"We watch out for each other. I’ll keep my eye on you two. And you do the same.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appleblossom's mouth wobbles into a small smile. \"We could snuggle closer.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amlet pushes his way in between Antonio and Appleblossom. \"Good idea. You two can be lookouts. I'll handle the middle.\" Appleblossom and Antonio are quiet, but they feel better. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And before they know it, all three possums are sound asleep.","brand":"Rocky Pond Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303645171941,"sku":"NP9780147512802","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780147512802.jpg?v=1767721695","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/appleblossom-the-possum-isbn-9780147512802","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}