Why the Possum Has a Large Grin - Hardcover

by Johnette Downing (Author), Christina Wald (Illustrator)

Move over Bre'r Rabbit, there's a new trickster in town

When hungry Deer asks Possum how he stays so plump during the long dry season, the sly marsupial gets an idea. It wouldn't take much for Possum to help Deer; he could just climb that ol' persimmon tree and knock down the fruit. But Possum is just plain lazy and he'd rather trick Deer into doing the work for both of them. Once Possum decides to take advantage of his starving neighbor they both become marked forever.

Front Jacket

This traditional Choctaw tale has been adapted by the talented singer/songwriter Johnette Downing. Her hilarious narrative of sly Possum's manipulative ways will have children grinning from ear to ear. From the moment the very hungry Deer spies fat Possum lolling about beneath a persimmon tree, Possum begins to plot. While Possum could certainly help out the starving Deer, he's just too lazy! Why not make Deer do all the work? Possum tricks Deer into getting the persimmons out of the tree and the experience marks both of them forever. Told in rhythmic verse reminiscent of classic Bre'r Rabbit tales, the story is accompanied by clever illustrations that bring it vividly to life. Poor Deer and silly Possum will never be the same!