Module 6: Epossumondas

Book Summary:

This books follows Epossumondas as he misunderstands his aunt's and mom's instructions. He crushes the cake in his hand, melts butter under his hat, wraps leaves around the dog, ties string to the bread, and steps in the middle of every pie. Every time he messes up it is because he did not understand that different instructions where meant for each item. 

APA Reference:

Salley, C. (2002). Epossumondas. New York, NY: Harcourt Books.

My Impressions:

I enjoyed the whimsy of this books. It reminded me of my son when he was little. He would purposely misunderstand instructions to get out of doing things. I found myself wondering the same thing about Epossumondas. The illustrations showed animals very realistically yet they were still cute. I would like to see more adventures of Epossumondas.

Professional Review:


Salley, a noted storyteller, has turned her trademark tale into a giggle-and-guffaw-inducing picture book. This story, known in Salley’s Louisiana as Epaminondas, is transformed here with the title character becoming a cheery little possum. His mama and his auntie, however, are human, and Stevens has made sure they resemble Salley, whose flower prints, hats, and big glasses are familiar to many in the children’s-literature world. Epossumondas visits his auntie, and each day she sends him home with something. He carries home a piece of cake scrunched in his hands; Alligator allows how it doesn’t look much like cake. Mama tells Epossumondas that he doesn’t have the sense he was born with and instructs him to carry the cake under his hat. When he gets some fresh butter and puts that under his hat, the trouble (and the fun) begins. Children (and grown-ups) will squeal with laughter, both at the possum’s literal interpretations of Mama’s advice and at Stevens’ illustrations, with their waggish animals and sassy watercolor-and-digital interiors. — GraceAnne A. DeCandido   

DeCandido, G. A. (2002, August). [Review of the book Epossumondas, by Coleen Salley]. 
     Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Epossumondas-Coleen-Salley
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 Library Uses:

I would use this book as a story time to focus on words and what they mean.