Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail [Hardcover]

Coleen Salley (Author), Janet Stevens (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 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 © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. They're baaaaack--that silly, diapered Epossumondas and Mama in her flowered dress and yellow hat (Stevens' affectionate visual tribute to well-known storyteller Salley). This time Epossumondas is thinking about tails: skunks have black-and-white ones; foxes have bushy, red ones; and hares have powder-puff ones. But Epossumondas' tail is long, naked, and pink. How come? Mama tells him a story. A long time ago, great-great-grandpa Papapossum had a fluffy tail. One day hungry Papapossum meets Hare, who convinces him to climb Bear's persimmon tree and throw down some of the persimmons. But when Papapossum gobbles up more than he throws down, Hare gets angry and tells Bear, who chases Papapossum and catches him in a tail tug-of-war. And since then "no possum has ever had hair on his tail." Stevens' signature mixed-media illustrations humorously concoct the delightful fun with such clever touches as Papapossum's persimmon-patterned shirt. This laughable stretch of the imagination, a tale about a tail by a natural-born storyteller, may be even more entertaining than the rollicking Epossumondas (2002). Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; First Edition edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152049355
• ISBN-13: 978-0152049355
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Coleen Salley built a worldwide reputation as a storyteller, children's literature expert, and raconteur. She enthralled parents and their children with her heart-stirring and exuberant renditions of favorite books and stories. Professor Emerita Coleen Salley taught children's literature and storytelling for thirty years at the University of New Orleans, and was a visiting professor at Simmons College in Boston, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the University of Denver, George Peabody College in Nashville, and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She made hundreds of professional presentations and appearances at more than twenty national conferences, including sessions with the American Library Association, the International Reading Association, and the American Booksellers Association.

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ms. Salley grew up hearing the old tale "Epaminondas," which became her trademark story. Her new adaptation appeared in print for the first time as Epossumondas (Harcourt, 2002). Winner of several awards for distinguished professional accomplishments, Coleen spent much of her life in the French Quarter in New Orleans--where she was known as Queen Coleen, a colorful character of Mardi Gras.

Ms. Salley and award-winning illustrator Janet Stevens were friends for many years. Ms. Stevens used Ms. Salley as the model for the intrepid grocery shopper in To Market, To Market, written by Anne Miranda. Ms. Salley's likeness also graces the pages of all four books featuring Epossumondas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cute story, September 21, 2004

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail (Hardcover)

Epossumondas is a baby possom whom lives with his "mama". His mama happens to be a sweet old lady! One day Epossumondas is in the yard and he sees his frind Skumk. He notices how Skunk has a big thik fur covered black and white tail. They he starts to thik about all types of animal tails. He asks his mother why he doesn't have any fur on his tail. His mother tells him a story that you will just have to read about to believe.

The best part of the book was the colorful illustrations. The possom wearing a diaper was really funny and cute. The "mama" to the possom is wearing bright colorful clothing nd a funny hat. Children will have lots to look at while someone reads them this book.

This would make a great read aloud during an aniaml unit. It will open the floor for discussions on the various type of animals in the world. Teachers could use this to get students to like of animals and all the ways the are alike and maybe even the same in lots of ways.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute New Story for Young Readers, October 6, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail (Hardcover)

Young Epossumondas isn't like many other opossums his age. For he lives with his so-called mama, who is a human, not an opossum like himself. And he doesn't live in a tree, but rather in a big, comfy couch. One day, little Epossumondas is sitting on the porch when Skunk goes by. Epossumondas notices Skunk's gorgeous, furry, black and white tail, and is immediately intrigued. Soon he is thinking about everyone's tail, including the tails of fox, and rabbit. Then he looks at his own tail. It's not fluffy, or bushy, or even powder-puffy. It's just pink and naked. So Epossumondas asks his mama, and she explains the story of Papapossum, and how opossums everywhere have tails just like his own, thanks to what Papapossum did years ago when he was trying to soothe his growling tummy.

Coleen Salley has created an absolutely adorable new children's book that will be loved by all. Epossumondas is a cute character, who is inquisitive, and intelligent, and mama is a caring, sweet old lady, who loves to tell him stories. Salley's story revolving around Papapossum is well-done, and will captivate young children. While Janet Stevens' amazing illustrations will keep their attention for hours after the book is read and finished. A wonderful new fiction book for children that will be loved by even adults.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

5.0 out of 5 stars Eposssumondas, January 14, 2012

By 

Marilyn Minoff "marilyn minoff" (chesterfield,mo) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail (Hardcover)

I have purchased all 4 of the Epossumundous books. They are great and a wonderful book to read outloud. I am a retired teacher but never heard of these books while I was teaching. I was introduced to these books by another retired teacher who was reading the book to her grandson's class while I was there subbing in the classroom. I bought the books and have read them to my grandson's kindergarten class last year and this year to his 1st grade class. You know great books when the students remember me reading the book to them eventhough it had been a year ago.