Blossom Possum

'Colour my beak blue, that's a risky business if you're not a cockatoo,' squawked Rocky Cocky. 'You'll need a bodyguard.' They trotted and strutted off down the track, round the back of beyong, up the hill and past the black stump, until they bumped into Joanna Goanna. Early one morning, Blossom Possum gets such a fright she thinks the sky is falling down! She has to tell someone, so she sets off with her news. On the way she meets her bush mates. But she also runs into trouble. This retelling of a favourite folktale has a delightful Aussie twist and a refreshingly positive ending. The author has used typically Australian animals to create a cast of quirky characters. Rocky Cocky is a cheeky cockatoo, Echo Gecko is an old hippie lizard, and Toey Joey is a lively young kangaroo.

Fans of E.B. White and Dick King-Smith will adore this heartwarming and funny animal adventure by the award-winning author of Counting by 7s Mama has trained up her baby possums in the ways of their breed, and now it’s time for all of them—even little Appleblossom—to make their way in the world. Appleblossom knows the rules: she must never be seen during the day, and she must avoid cars, humans, and the dreaded hairies (sometimes known as dogs). Even so, Appleblossom decides to spy on a human family—and accidentally falls down their chimney! The curious Appleblossom, her faithful brothers—who launch a hilarious rescue mission—and even the little girl in the house have no idea how fascinating the big world can be. But they're about to find out! With dynamic illustrations, a tight-knit family, and a glimpse at the world from a charming little marsupial's point of view, this cozy animal story is a perfect read-aloud and a classic in the making.

Ask me my name? Want me to play? Call on me in class? I say nothing and hope no one will see me. I call that playing possum. It's my way of being shy. Blossom wants to speak up in class, and she wants to spend time with friends at lunch and at recess. She also loves to jam on her flute, make glitter glam headbands, and recite poetry... but you might not know that, because Blossom is also very shy! She wants to participate in school and with friends, but whenever she tries, she freezes up and plays possum instead. And playing possum is not the best way to make friends! With some gentle encouragement from her peers and her music teacher, Blossom learns that taking risks usually isn’t as bad as she fears, and can have a big payoff. She might still be shy, but she’s getting better at putting herself out there and having fun. Includes a Note to Parents and Other Caregivers by Julia Martin Burch, PhD, with more information on the cognitive-behavioral strategies Blossom uses to cope with shyness and ways to encourage your own shy child.

Visit Blossom the Possum's Garden of Love for a story of kindness and generosity to see how she grows her garden and enjoys it with her friends and family. Part of the Swampworks Series.

"Deep in a hollow, near Ironbark Creek, Blossom the Possum was trying to sleep. But it's raining and all the animals come, one-by-one, to share her warm hollow. How will Blossom ever get to sleep?" -- Back cover.

Early one morning Blossom Possum gets such a fright she thinks the sky is falling down! She has to tell someone, so she sets off with her news. On the way she meets her bush mates, but she also runs in to trouble ... Age 3+

Journey among Animals is zoologist Meredith Happold’s delightful and enlightening story of her work with animals – especially bats. It begins with the story of Mickey the mouse-eared bat who taught her to love bats, and her childhood in rural Australia surrounded by goats, horses, dogs and possums who taught her how to establish empathy with animals. Meredith studied zoology at university, going on to become a highly regarded zoologist specializing in animal behaviour and ecology. Journey among Animals explores some of her field career in Nigeria and Malawi where she and her husband studied the ecology and behaviour of small mammals and bats in many different habitats. Their research culminated in having an African bat named after them (Happolds’ Pipistrelle, Parahypsugo happoldorum) in recognition of their work. Bats are much-maligned animals, but Meredith demonstrates how these delightful, intelligent, friendly, curious, useful creatures are so important in today’s world and Journey among Animals are Meredith’s reflections on how attitudes to animals and the study of animal behaviour have changed during her lifetime.

In 1978, at the age of eighteen and with a seventh-grade education, Dolly Freed wrote Possum Living, chronicling the five years she and her father lived off the land on a half-acre lot outside of Philadelphia.