Overview
Snuggled and warm in the midst of his winter's nap, Possum is roused by a small peep, peep, peep. He is determined to find out who so rudely awakened him from his repose. Joined by other animals who also want the racket to stop, the group of friends search high and low for the mystery peeper.When Possum is awakened on the first day of spring by a loud noise that won't stop, he and all the other animals, who have also had their winters' sleep disturbed, set out to discover who is making all the racket.
Synopsis
Peep! Peep! Peep!
Possum opened one small eye.
What was that noise?
One by one, sleeping animals reluctantly awake to a peeping racket. Snug and warm in the midst of his winter's nap, Possum is roused by a small peep, peep, peep. In cranky morning fashion he is determined to find out who has so rudely awakened him. He and his friends, a bear, a muskrat, and a couple of catbirds, who also want the racket to stop, set out to find the surprising source of all the commotion. Soon, though, with the sun shining down warm on their feathers and fur, they realize it wasn't so bad to be rousted out of bed after all. Ann Hunter’s glowing art has all the delicacy of the season she celebrates in this whimsical tale of new beginnings.
Publishers Weekly
The endearing pin-eyed, pointy-nosed possum introduced in Hunter's debut, Possum's Harvest Moon, returns to inaugurate the spring in this charming tale. An infernal racket has awakened nature's creatures from their winter hibernation, and Possum, along with a pair of catbirds, a cranky bear and a muskrat, sets off to discover the source. "Peep! Peep! Peep!" sounds the wake-up call on this first warm day of spring as the animals venture through a woodland and swamp that are bursting with sunlight and budding flowers. While Hunter's previous book explored the woods' nocturnal landscapeswathed in crosshatch shadow and moonlighthere she washes the pages with watercolors in a cool palette of avocado greens and shimmering yellows. Double-page spreads carry readers over landscapes of newly sprouting grass and along the edges of blooming marshland, and within each, Hunter displays her whimsical sense of size and proportion (e.g., an extreme close-up of a toothy bear muzzle confronting the tiny peeper culprit). Yet the animals remain true to their habitat: when the peeper urges everyone out of bed ("Time for breakfast! Tea and toast!"), they commune around a lily pad of curled green morsels. Hunter scores again as she trumpets in the season, rousing her entrancing characters from a long rest. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)
Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
The endearing pin-eyed, pointy-nosed possum introduced in Hunter's debut, Possum's Harvest Moon, returns to inaugurate the spring in this charming tale. An infernal racket has awakened nature's creatures from their winter hibernation, and Possum, along with a pair of catbirds, a cranky bear and a muskrat, sets off to discover the source. "Peep! Peep! Peep!" sounds the wake-up call on this first warm day of spring as the animals venture through a woodland and swamp that are bursting with sunlight and budding flowers. While Hunter's previous book explored the woods' nocturnal landscapeswathed in crosshatch shadow and moonlighthere she washes the pages with watercolors in a cool palette of avocado greens and shimmering yellows. Double-page spreads carry readers over landscapes of newly sprouting grass and along the edges of blooming marshland, and within each, Hunter displays her whimsical sense of size and proportion e.g., an extreme close-up of a toothy bear muzzle confronting the tiny peeper culprit. Yet the animals remain true to their habitat: when the peeper urges everyone out of bed "Time for breakfast! Tea and toast!", they commune around a lily pad of curled green morsels. Hunter scores again as she trumpets in the season, rousing her entrancing characters from a long rest. Ages 4-8. Mar.Children's Literature -
Possum is not happy about being awakened from his hibernation by some peeping noise. Grumpily he sets off to find the cause of his distress and is joined by a series of like-minded animal friends who, one by one, swell the ranks of the searchers. Imagine their astonishment when they finally track the source of the annoying "Peep! Peep! Peep!" to a tiny frog, who then convinces the whole lot of them that it's too beautiful a spring morning to be sleeping away the day. All ends happily on a sun-drenched riverbank-enough to give you spring fever whatever the season!School Library Journal
K-Gr 2Possum returns in a story even more delightful than Possum's Harvest Moon Houghton, 1996. Once again, the engaging little creature visits other animals with a questionwho is making that insistent peeping noise? The catbirds have no answer. The bear and the muskrat don't know who is making the racket, either. However, everyone offers to help Possum find the source of the disturbing sound. The cooperative effort of the animals and the joyful repetition of the "Peep! Peep! Peep!" will make this book an endearing read-aloud. The watercolor illustrations glow with a delicious yellow light that makes readers feel the gentle warmth of a spring sun. Almost every picture shows plants sprouting, flowers in bloom, and insects buzzing. The grumbling bear is adorable as he reveals just enough teeth to prove his intention to protect his friends from the loud peeper. Facial expressions are irresistible when the animals discover that the source of the noise is a little frog. This book should be the first sign of spring in classrooms across the country.Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VAKirkus Reviews
Possum (Possum's Harvest Moon, 1996), curled in his warm winter nest, reluctantly opens one small eye to the "Peep! Peep! Peep!" he hears. Something has awakened him and he's not happy about it, but he decides to find out who's being so inconsiderate. The din isn't coming from the catbirds building their nest, but they decide to come along. The trio encounters a growly bear who's also been awakened; the muskrat down in the marsh joins in as the noise gets louder and louder. Pushing aside the reeds, the disgruntled animals encounter "a small spot on the bank"þthe source of all the clamor, a peeper. "Rise and shine!" he shouts, "It's spring!" The little fellow is so insistent that soon everyone is enjoying the first warm day of the season. Sweetly expressive, Hunter's illustrations in watercolor, colored pencil, and pen-and-ink cross-hatching are as irresistible as the peeper. Alternating between close-ups and sun-filled landscapes, the scenes capture the essence of spring and complement the well-paced, gently humorous text. (Picture book. 4-8)From the Publisher
“Wonderful. . . . Perfect for both lap sharing and reading aloud.” Booklist, ALA“Sweetly expressive, Hunter’s illustrations . . . are as irresistible as the peeper.” Kirkus Reviews
“This book should be the first sign of spring in classrooms across the county.” School Library Journal
“Hunter scores again as she trumpets in he season, rousing her entrancing characters from a long rest.” Publishers Weekly