Opossums

Children's Literature

The “Backyard Animals” series includes nine titles about animals that can be found in cities and town around the country. Butterflies, coyotes, deer, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, sparrows and squirrels are featured in the series. Each animal is introduced with a large photo and information about where they live and a few characteristics that make them special. A brief history provides information about the development of the species worldwide. A large photograph of the animal provides information about their specific body parts and how they help it survive in nature. The animal’s life cycle and what it eats are illustrated with photographs. Details about where humans are most likely to interact with the featured animal and myths from various cultures make the information more relevant and interesting to young readers. An opossum can pretend to be dead when threatened by a predator. It will roll over, shuts its eyes, and stick out its tongue. It can stay that way for hours, until the predator has gone away. This has come to be known as “playing possum.” Opossums are marsupial. After birth, an opossum lives in a pouch on its mother’s belly. They have opposable thumbs that help them climb trees. Large photographs and sidebars with factoids make this a nice way to learn about common animals children might see in their neighborhood. Reviewer: Kristin Harris

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4
These eye-catching volumes describe the basic characteristics of animals that children might see in their backyards or neighborhoods. Large, full-color photos appear throughout, and the texts are clearly written and well organized. Variations in habitat and species are mentioned, although the books focus mainly on those animals living in climates with four distinct seasons. Each title covers the creature's history, shelter, physical features, food, and life cycle, and presents advice about wildlife encounters, a short myth, and frequently asked questions. Unfortunately, some of the suggested Web sites are questionable. For example, Squirrel states: "A baby squirrel should not be raised by people and then released into nature," but the Web site given on the same page provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to raise an orphaned squirrel and release it into the wild. The one for Opossums suggests searching the pouches of opossums that have been killed by cars to save babies that may have survived. One would hope that children will leave this task to adults as the book suggests. Despite these minor flaws, these titles have a lot to offer youngsters. They are more detailed than the "Rookie-Read-about Science" series and are more attractive and conversational than the "True Books" series (both Children's Press).
—Melinda PiehlerCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.