Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail

by Coleen Salley, Janet Stevens (Illustrator)

Overview

Epossumondas has a very important question: "Mama, why don't I have hair on my tail?"

And wouldn't you know it, Mama can tell him exactly why possum tails are all pink and naked and funny looking. Her story's a doozy! It goes way back to Epossumondas's great-great-grandpa, Papapossum. When hungry Papapossum and his growly ol' stomach meet up with wily Hare, cranky Bear, and a persimmon tree . . . well, it's one hair-raisin' adventure!

Renowned storyteller Coleen Salley and Caldecott Honor illustrator Janet Stevens team up again, drawing on the Uncle Remus tradition and their own wild imaginations to expose a hilarious—and important!—moment in possum history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547546681
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/01/2004
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Lexile:	AD630L (what's this?)
File size:	43 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.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise and honors for Epossumondas:
"A treasure."—The New York Times Book Review

[star]"Silliness to the hilt . . . Outrageous fun!"—Kirkus Reviews

[star]"Hilarious."—School Library Journal

Bank Street College of Education Irma Simonton and James H. Black Honor Book Sense 76 Pick IRA-CBC Children's Choice Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award

Editorial Reviews

The diapered furry hero and his human mother are back to explain Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail by Colleen Salley, illus. by Janet Stevens. Here Mama tells a story about Epossumondas's great-great-grandpa, Papapossum, who gobbled persimmons from Bear's tree-and barely escaped the resulting ursine wrath. Gaudily dressed characters with cheery Southern turns of phrase imbue this sequel with charm equal to the first book. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 3-In this sequel to Epossumondas (Harcourt, 2002), Papapossum's yearning for Bear's persimmons cost him and all future opossums their once-fluffy tails. Salley has a true storyteller's voice, peppering the text with colorful descriptions and amusing expressions that give the tale an authentic folktale feel. Stevens's large, brightly hued mixed-media illustrations add greatly to the fun, particularly when Papapossum is finding creative uses for his now elongated and naked tail. Scenes with "that sweet little patootie," Epossumondas, comfortably ensconced on his Mama's lap lend an air of coziness to the story. This will be a surefire hit when shared with a group or one-on-one.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Thinking about his long, skinny, and very pink tail, Epossumondas questions why, of all the animal tails he has seen, his is the funniest. Mama Possum spins a story that tells of Papapossum's hungry stomach, a sly rabbit, a tree full of sweet persimmons, and one cranky grizzly bear. Focused on satisfying the urgings of his empty stomach, Papapossum forgets his common sense and eats too many of Bear's persimmons, even after Bear warns him repeatedly of the consequences. When Bear finally does get Papapossum out of the tree, all he can grab is the possum's tail, forever changing the look of every possum from then on. Stevens's bright and whimsical illustrations, full of detail, feature a necktie-wearing bear (bee-pattern, of course), a rabbit in a carrot-festooned shirt, and the return of Epossumondas in his diaper, sitting on Salley's lap as she tells this tale about tails. Those who've heard Salley tell a story can hear her voice in this one, full to bursting with child appeal. Grrrrrrreat. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews

Praise and honors for Epossumondas:
"A treasure."—The New York Times Book Review

[star]"Silliness to the hilt . . . Outrageous fun!"—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

[star]"Hilarious."—School Library Journal (starred review)

Bank Street College of Education Irma Simonton and James H. Black Honor
Book Sense 76 Pick
IRA-CBC Children's Choice
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award
—

From the Publisher

Coleen Salley’s Epossumondas stories are like a Texas version of the Uncle Remus tales, full of charming, idiosyncratic animal characters, anchored by Epossumondas and his human mama. Add Cynthia Darlow’s arresting narration, and it’s storytelling at its best. From snarling, angry bear, to squeaky hare, to nasally, happy-go-lucky possum, to the sweet southern narrator, Darlow’s range of characterizations is amazing—maintaining those voices while singing is a real feat. As she draws out words for emphasis, and quickens and slows the pace to enhance the natural rhythms and action of the story, she creates a listening delight. Although listening while enjoying the charming illustrations is even more fun, Darlow brings the characters so vividly to life that the print book isn’t necessary. W.L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

FEB/MAR 07 - AudioFile