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The Barnes & Noble Review
In a marvelously mixed-up tale by acclaimed storyteller Coleen Salley, with artwork by Tops & Bottoms illustrator Janet Stevens, poor little Epossumondas can't ever get things straight when bringing home goodies from his auntie. Mama gives him instructions on how to correctly carry such items as cake, butter, a puppy, and bread, but the small "noodlehead" takes her words too literally, treating the puppy like butter (keeping it cool in water), for example, and the bread like a puppy (he drags it home on a leash). Mama's finally had enough after some time, but when she leaves and tells Epossumondas to "be careful about stepping on those pies," the small "patootie" pounces "right in the middle of every one." This silly story is just the right medicine for anyone who takes life too seriously: Epossumondas is a sweet, harmless character who means no harm, and his well-intentioned mix-ups will send young readers into fits of giggles. With a lengthy storyteller's note about folktales, storytelling, and noodlehead stories in particular, this winsome tale with southern origins is sure to win over fans young and old. Matt Warner
Kathleen Odean
In this entertaining tale, Epossumondas, an ever cheerful possum clad in diapers, is his human mama's and auntie's "sweet little patootie." His doting auntie gives Epossumondas a series of gifts to take home, starting with a piece of cake, which he squishes. His mama explains that he should carry cake under his hat, so that's what he does when his aunt gives him butter. Each present leads to another silly misunderstanding that will have children laughing, pleased to know better than the main character.
Kirkus Reviews
Variations of Epaminondas or Foolish Jack have had the noodlehead misconstruing his mama's advice for years, from black face and black dialect to more comic renditions, but this version hangs by a tail-and a possum's tail no less. "Epossumondas was his mama's and his auntie's sweet little patootie. They just loved him to death." But he proves he doesn't have the sense he was born with when he mangles and muddles his Mama's instructions as he carries home daily the items his Auntie gives him-crumbling the cake, melting the butter, nearly drowning the puppy, and battering the bread. His encounters with Alligator, Raccoon, Nutria, and Armadillo will have kids giggling out loud as they foresee what comes next, especially with Mama's final caution: "Be careful about stepping on those pies." In "A Storyteller's Note," Salley (a professional storyteller) cites the origin and reworking of this story, which is her signature tale. Those who know her will hear her voice as they read, but it is the lively, outsized illustrations that spark the story to its full exaggeration, painting the effusive Salley herself as Mama. The watercolor and color-pencil illustrations with photographic and digital elements play the silliness to the hilt with Mama at center stage in purple glasses, yellow hat with red rose, red shoes, and floral-print dress. Handsomely designed, the quality paper, pie-filled endpapers and large size add just the right pizzazz. Shaggy-haired, diaper-clad Epossumondas becomes a new name for a classic character with a wry, southern twist, and no misunderstanding-it's outrageous fun! (Folktale. 3-8)
