Illus. in full color. "While Granny is a-rockin' and a-knittin' and Ma's a-cookin' and Pa's a-fixin', that old possum in his top hat and vest just keeps on knocking. The narrator, a redheaded boy, tries to tell family members about the possum, and when the family checks, the possum hides. Should be popular with story-hour groups."--Booklist.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Outside, there's a full moon in the sky and a grinning possum in a top hat with mischief on his mind. Inside, Granny's knitting, Pappy's whittling and other members of a slightly eccentric family are trying to get some chores done. Possum knocks at the door, setting off an hilarious chain reaction as the family pets go wild. The youngest child discovers the cause of the ruckus--only to be made a fool of when Pa and Ma investigate and the possum scurries into hiding. Practically begging to be read aloud, Van Laan's cumulative rhyme is a real toe-tapper, with a delightfully "down-home" flavor and an infectious syncopated rhythm. The characters that populate Booth's cartoon-like illustrations have a goofy charm (Tom-cat looks like a direct descendant of Bloom County's Bill). Ages 4 - 8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-- Possum tracks on the end papers lead directly to a pink-eyed, long-tailed possum in top hat and vest, energetically knocking on the door to a house. The indoor activities of the family members are viewed through a window and described in a rhyming, rhythmic, erratically cumulative text. "Possum come a-knockin' at the door, at the door. Possum come a-knockin' at the door," says the girl who narrates. When the child finally convinces everyone to look outside, Possum hides behind a tree; they've all been tricked, and one suspects it may all happen again. Booth's trademark swinging lightbulb and demented dog and cat are here, but they're toned down a bit for the audience, and the addition of watercolor seems to have a calming influence as well. There are some problems: the family activities are stereotyped (Pa is hammering, Pappy's whittling, Ma is cooking, Granny's knitting); there may be objections to the use of mountain dialect, and there is an occasional weakness in the text. But children will relish the nonsense of it all and will soon be chanting along. --Leda Schubert, Vermont Department of Education, Montpelier
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Possum,
By Laura Windridge (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Possum Come A-Knockin' (Dragonfly Books) (Paperback)
My family's all-time favorite read-aloud book. This is the only book I was ever willing to read as many times as it was requested. The story and illustrations are whimsical and fun and the rhythm rolling and delightful. A "must have" for any family library.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a Teacher,
By
This review is from: Possum Come A-Knockin' (Dragonfly Books) (Paperback)
Possum Come a Knockin'
Nancy Van Laan Illustrations by George Booth A mischievous, well-dressed trickster, Possum, knocks on the door of a busy country family. Chaos ensues with hollerin', fussin' and cussin' when Possum's knockin' disrupts Granny's knittin', Ma's cookin', Pa's fixin', Dawg's a twitchin' and a scratchin' and Pappy's whittlin'. When the whole family stops their activities and quietly opens the door to see who is knocking, wily Possum sneaks off. The Southern dialect brings this knee-slapping, rhythmic, chanting story to life. George Booth's creative illustrations of the family, their pets and the top-hatted Possum add more facets to this tale with his hilarious visual gags. This funny, quirky story will quickly become a favorite of the whole family. Nancy Van Laan's toe-tapping tale with its rich vernacular is often incorporated into primary classroom instruction in music for its rhythm and also in Language Arts instruction as an example in dialects. Possum Come a-Knockin' is a 1990 Parents' Choice Award Winner. BIBLIO: 1992, A Dragonfly Book Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 3-9, $14.99. REVIEWER: Sheila Daughtry FORMAT: Picture Book ISBN: 0-679-83468-0 ISBN: 0679847839
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What'd you do if the wildlife started knocking on your door?,
By ...Loggie... "Loggie-log-log-log" (I live on the earth, in the western hemisphere, in North America, in the country of the United States of America, in Illinois in the town of Champaign) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Possum Come A-Knockin' (Dragonfly Books) (Paperback)
Well, a "Possum come a-knockin' at the door, at the door. Possum come a-knockin' at the door." This possum. By simply knockin' manages to send the whole house into uproar.This is a great book to read out loud because the words have a natural rhythm and the story sounds much better read out loud because of it. The story flows wonderfully; it has to the way it was written. The illustrations are also very good. They do an excellent job of capturing the emotions- the devilish smile on the possum's face, the frustration of the narrator, and the bewilderment of the rest of the family. For all its many wonderful characteristics, the way this book reads is what makes it so special and unique. Loggie-log-log-log
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Ma was busy cookin' in the Kitchen makin' taters when a possum come a-knockin' at the door. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Ma was busy cookin' in the Kitchen makin' taters when a possum come a-knockin' at the door. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
7
books
cite this book:
See all 7 books citing this book
- Music Through Children's Literature: Theme and Variations -Revised Edition by Donna B. Levene on 4 pages
- The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children: 3rd Edition Revised and Updated by Eden Ross Lipson on page 74, and Back Matter
- Revisiting The Reading Workshop: Management, Mini-Lessons, & Strategies by Barbara Orehovec on page 97, and Back Matter
- The Music Teacher's Book of Lists (J-B Ed: Book of Lists) by Cynthia Meyers Ross on page 235
- How Is My Second Grader Doing in School?: What to Expect and How to Help by Jennifer Richard Jacobson on page 73
See all 7 books citing this book
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
