Playing Possum
Playing Possum by Jennifer Black Reinhardt is an illustrated children’s book published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2020. This 32-page story follows the shy possum Alfred, who struggles to make friends due to his tendency to play dead when meeting new creatures. His journey takes a turn when he encounters Sophia the armadillo, who shares her own coping mechanism of rolling up in a ball when anxious, leading to a humorous exploration of friendship and overcoming fear.
In this engaging tale, readers will discover how Alfred and Sophia navigate their social challenges, ultimately helping other animals with similar difficulties. The narrative highlights themes of emotions and feelings, as well as the importance of patience and forgiveness in building connections. The author’s note at the end provides insights into real animals and their defensive behaviors, enriching the reading experience with a blend of humor and science. This edition is designed to appeal to young readers, making it a thoughtful addition to any children’s library.
Official synopsis Publisher
Meeting strangers makes shy possum Alfred anxious, and he plays dead. So he has trouble making friends–until Sophia the armadillo reveals that when she gets anxious, she rolls up in a ball. A witty friendship tale inspired by animal behavior.
In this winsome tale, Alfred, who plays dead, and Sophia, who rolls up in a ball, stand in for shy or anxious humans whose discomfort keeps them from fitting in. Jennifer Black Reinhardt has cast animals with defense mechanisms as characters to tell an imaginative, endearing story about learning to make friends by mastering fear and shyness. Alfred and Sofia open up to each other and go on to help other creatures who have social difficulties by practicing patience, forgiveness, and friendship–tools for overcoming the barriers that keep us from connecting with others. An author’s note lists real animals and their defensive behaviors.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Playing Possum” about?
Who is the author of “Playing Possum”?
When was “Playing Possum” published?
What is the ISBN for “Playing Possum”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
