Epossumondas Saves the Day

by Coleen Salley, Janet Stevens (Illustrator)

Overview

It’s Epossumondas's birthday, so Mama's whipping up his favorite biscuits. But she's plumb out of sody sallyraytus! (That's baking soda to all you Yankees.) Everybody knows you can’t make big, fluffy biscuits without sody. One by one, Baby Gator, Auntie, and Mama scoot to the store to fetch some. But when no one comes back, it’s up to Epossumondas to run out and see what’s what—until he runs smack into a great, huge, ugly Louisiana snapping turtle!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547539300
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	11/01/2006
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	98 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Coleen Salley (1929-2008) was a renowned storyteller, a distinguished professor of children's literature, and the author of a number of beloved picture books. The classic Southern story of Epaminondas was her longtime trademark tale at storytelling performances nationwide. She adapted this story into the acclaimed picture book Epossumondas, followed by Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail, Epossumondas Saves the Day, and Epossumondas Plays Possum, all illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Janet Stevens. She was raised  in Baton Rouge and lived most of her adult life in New Orleans. She was a Professor Emeritus of the University of New Orleans. Visit her website at www.coleensalley.com.

Janet Stevens is the author and illustrator of many beloved picture books, including Tops & Bottoms, a Caldecott Honor Book. With her sister and co-author, Susan Stevens Crummel, she created the acclaimed best-sellers The Great Fuzz Frenzy,Help Me, Mr. Mutt!, The Little Red Pen and more. She is also the illustrator of the Epossumondas books, written by renowned storyteller Coleen Salley. Janet Stevens lives in Colorado. Visit her online at janetstevens.com.

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 5-The lovable diapered possum, Mama's "sweet little patootie," stars in another charming book, this time a variation of the Southern folktale "Sody Sallyraytus." On Epossumondas's birthday, Mama's plans to make his favorite light fluffy biscuits come to a halt when she discovers that she is out of sody sallyraytus. She asks one after another of the guests to "scoot over to the store" to buy some, and, unfortunately, they meet up with a hungry "GREAT, HUGE, UGLY LOUISIANA SNAPPING TURTLE!" It's up to Epossumondas to rescue them. Salley's text is alive with the colorful expressions of the South ("Well, I swaney" and "Honey, you're gooder 'n' grits"), which make the story a delight to read aloud. Stevens's hilarious mixed-media illustrations are a perfect match for the narrative. The visual details create lovable characters as well as a truly frightening villain. Mama's purple glasses and shoes, Epossumondas's diaper and the inexplicable safety pin hanging on his tale, and the Louisiana setting are all unforgettable. Children will love listening to the tale and will laugh out loud at the verbal expressions and the artwork. This one belongs on the shelves of every library, but it won't stay there long.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

This high-spirited Louisiana version of the traditional folktale, "Sody Sallyraytus," is great fun to read aloud. It's Epossumondas's birthday, and Mama needs baking soda, or "sody sallyraytus," to make the sweet biscuits for strawberry shortcake, his favorite dessert. One by one, Baby Gator, Auntie, Mama and finally Epossumondas himself, cross the creek to the grocery store, chanting "Sody! Sody! Sody sallyraytus!" But on the way home, each of them falls prey to a "GREAT, HUGE, UGLY LOUISIANA SNAPPING TURTLE," all except for little Epossumondas, who cleverly and bravely saves the day. In the end, all (except the turtle) celebrate with strawberry shortcake. Salley's telling never misses a beat, and Stevens's energetic illustrations depict not only the unmistakable Ms. Salley as Mama, but also a matching "Auntie" in flowered dress, red pumps and party hat, both wonderfully contrasted with a truly GREAT, HUGE, UGLY LOUISIANA SNAPPING TURTLE. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews