Coleen Salley (1929–2008)

Epossumondas Plays Possum is a story about a possum, Epossumondas, and his Mama. Mama tells Epossumondas not to go into the woods because he could be eaten by a loup-garou. Epossumondas was not a rule breaking, but he often got distracted. He started following the prettiest butterfly he had ever seen into the woods. He lost track of the butterfly and realized he had wandered far into the woods. He heard and sounds and played possum. Possums can play dead when predators are around so they won't be eaten. Epossumondas avoided being eaten in the words three times by playing possum, and the last time he was picked up by a hawk and started to wiggle so he was dropped. Mama found Epossumondas in the woods and brought him back home to safety. This is a story about using your attributes to avoid harm. Epossumondas knew he had the chance of being eaten in the woods and use his skills to save himself.… (més)