Reviews of Appleblossom the Possum

Unforgettable

“Appleblossom is the smallest of Mama Possum’s babies. She may be little, but by the time she’s just a few months old, she must be prepared to face, on her own, the great big world and the many dangers it holds for possums. Appleblossom is timid, but she’s also curious — and skeptical of Mama’s warnings, which is how she becomes interested in a small monster (a human girl) and falls down a chimney into the monster’s house. This is just the beginning of the wild and wholly engaging adventure on which Appleblossom unwittingly sends two of her brothers. It takes them from the safety of their neighborhood all the way to big-city night life. More important, it shines a spotlight on Mama’s teachings about the solitariness of possums.

In Holly Goldberg Sloan’s delightfully amusing imaginings of possum life, the reader learns that possums are, above all else, actors — and heavily steeped in the tradition. When they are still tiny, they begin learning the craft. Mama teaches her babies about ensemble companies versus solo acts, overcoming stage fright (“Fake it until you make it, possums”), and of course death scenes: Playing dead is singularly vital to possums. “Dead is the only way to stay alive,” Mama says. As entertaining as Appleblossom’s early months are, she soon learns a tough lesson: Possums are solitary creatures. Mama grooms her youngsters to be independent — of her and of one another. Possum families do not stick together, no matter now much Appleblossom might wish otherwise. But Mama turns out to be a complex creature. When Appleblossom’s brothers search for Mama so that she can aid in the rescue of their sister, they not only discover Mama’s secret life, but find her championing the “tribe of possums.” Solitary though these unforgettable possums may be, they are not alone.”

—Ann M. Martin, THE NEW YORK TIMES

Possums

“Possums: I thought they hung out in the country. Or in eucalyptus forests in Australia. Not outside my Brooklyn apartment, looking like small dogs with beady little eyes and claws that haunt your dreams. Like the hipsters and the foodies, the possums have come to Brooklyn, and I’m not happy about it. So I picked up Appleblossom the Possum, the third novel by Holly Goldberg Sloan (author of the phenomenal Counting By 7s) as a skeptic. There was no way this friendly creature on the cover, waving no less, (waving!) was the real deal. Her sweet name, Appleblossom, it was a ruse; a ploy. As it turns out, in Sloan’s lovely book, possums are masters of deception. They’re the true performers of the animal kingdom, having to put on a brave face, in order to get some grub and steer clear of the true monsters: cars, dogs, and us.

Appleblossom, the last newborn possum to crawl into her mother’s pouch behind twelve siblings, is less sure what role she’ll play as she and her brothers and sisters train for the life of a solitary animal or, as her mother calls it, their first “solo show.” You see, acting is fundamental to the life of a possum. Not only do possums have to act brave and confident in the face of real-world threats (the aforementioned cars, dogs, and people), but they also have to, literally, play dead if they encounter life-threatening dangers.

With wonderful pink-tailed black and white illustrations by Gary A. Rosen, we follow Appleblossom and two of her loyal brothers as they sleep the day away, then walk the night to “grind the grub,” even if they wish they were still safe in their mother’s pouch.

It’s when the curious Appleblossom falls into the chimney of a family’s home that her bravery is truly tested, and she discovers that she’s smarter and more daring than she knew in the face of a potential final performance; that one last curtain call.

Using this kind of playful language of the theater to explain how possums stage their lives, Sloan takes us through the use of props, improvisation, gut instinct, and, even the moon as a spotlight, as the possums find danger and adventure around every corner. The antics of the possums aside, much of the book’s humor comes from the perspective of Izzy, the household’s only child, who is in search of a “real pal,” as well as the book’s true villain, her dog Columbo, whose one track mind (getting hold of a red ball) switches fast when Appleblossom enters his home. (There’s a great bit on Columbo “doing his business,” as Izzy’s parents call it, which Izzy envisions as Columbo sitting at a desk in an office, pretending to do work but actually watching videos of other dogs.)

In the end, Izzy’s search for a friend, and the importance of friendship and family are at the heart of the book. While looking for a part to play, Appleblossom discovers that the role of family in her life is as vital to her as her ability to perform. Sloan’s light-hearted, funny, and clever tale is perfect for the young animal lovers and adventurers in your life. It even made this possum skeptic believe there might be more to this misunderstood marsupial than meets the eye. Maybe the possums I’ve seen have come to Brooklyn to get closer to Broadway.

Are your kids ready to meet Appleblossom the Possum?”

—Melissa Sarno, BNKids Blog

Adorable

“A young possum topples down a chimney to become the pet of a little girl while her brothers try to rescue her.

The runt of a litter of baby possums, Appleblossom spends several months inside her mother’s pouch before Mama Possum introduces her babies to the dangerous world. Mama explains that as solitary, nocturnal, nomadic marsupials, they must hide by day and avoid dogs, humans, and cars. When her babies are ready to survive on their own, Mama leaves. Insecure and afraid, Appleblossom and her brothers, Antonio and Amlet, stick together until curious Appleblossom accidentally tumbles down a chimney into the house of a girl named Izzy. Thrilled with her adorable new pet, Izzy pampers Appleblossom and conspires to hide her from her parents and dog.

Determined to save Appleblossom, Antonio and Amlet stumble upon their parents, and together they stage a daring raid on Izzy’s house. Use of the present tense adds immediacy to Appleblossom, Amlet, and Antonio’s naïve, amusing, and endearing high jinks. Insights about possums add an educational element to this otherwise comic adventure, while humorous illustrations capture the wee possums’ antics and personalities.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Survivor

“Appleblossom, a small and brave possum, and her 12 siblings learn from their Mama Possum that the world is a stage and that acting is necessary for survival, especially against the various “monsters” (cars, people, pets) that threaten. Ever the explorer, Appleblossom gets stuck inside a small “monster’s” house, complete with a dog and disgusted parents; brothers Antonio and Amlet try to mount a rescue effort while Appleblossom takes on the role of plaything. Sloan (Counting by 7s) divides the story between Appleblossom’s shrewd thinking in the house and her brothers’ search for help in the form of a bedraggled possum named Big Poss, who turns out to be an extraordinary actor. Rosen’s pink-tinged images (not all seen by PW) bring a playfulness to many of the scenes. 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 (“Playing dead is one thing. But smelling dead is another. It adds a whole other layer to a possum performance”) that generates the most fun.”

— Publishers Weekly

Satisfying

“FIERCE AND FURRY. Mama Possum has done her best to impart wisdom to her newborn “A” possum brood—Antonio, Alisa, Abdul, Ajax, Alberta, Angie, Allan, Alphonse, Atticus, Alejandro, Augusta, Amlet, and the littlest possum, Appleblossom. There are many rules that must be followed in the possum world—never be seen during the day, avoid cars (metal monsters), people, and especially the hairies (dogs). Mama Possum teaches the youngsters how to theatrically play dead to avoid the many calamities facing them daily. Mama tells the babies they are solitary creatures and need to fend for themselves, but when she disappears, the A clan doesn’t feel ready to face the world. Appleblossom and two of her brothers, Amlet and Antonio, band together and share stories of their new adventures out in the world. Curious Appleblossom finds a human home with a seemingly nice creature (a little girl named Izzy), but it also houses a terrifying beast of a dog named Columbo, who is intent on sniffing and destroying. When Appleblossom accidentally stumbles down the chimney into the house, it is up to her family to save her. An unlikely friendship and bond forms between Izzy and Appleblossom, and the possum must choose between family and friendship. Sloan has masterfully created an intensely satisfying and humorous tale that makes possums seem utterly adorable. Rosen’s charming illustrations pair beautifully with the text, as he draws the possums with intertwined tails, pink noses, and vivid expressions. VERDICT: A perfectly sweet animal tale, with just the right blend of humor, excitement, and uncertainty.”

— School Library Journal