Appleblossom the Possum

By: Holly Goldberg Sloan

Narrated by: Dustin Hoffman

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.

Critic reviews

Praise for Appleblossom the Possum

"Readers will enjoy both the realistic details of a newborn possum making her way to her mother's pouch, and the fanciful view of adult possums' urban nightlife, complete with rooftop music and a conga line. . . . This attractive book will engage young readers intrigued by animals."—Booklist

"Insights about possums add an educational element to this otherwise comic adventure, while humorous illustrations capture the wee possums' antics and personalities. A warm and funny possum-family saga."—Kirkus Reviews

"A perfectly sweet animal tale, with just the right blend of humor, excitement, and uncertainty."—School Library Journal

"Amid the homey message that family matters most, Sloan seeds the story with assorted possum facts and vocabulary lessons, but it's the possum-as-actor metaphor . . . that generates the most fun."—Publishers Weekly

Sweet story, great performance!

This tale of a possum family is beautifully written , and Dustin Hoffman brings the characters to life.

Simply sweet and wonderfully entertaining!

This is a truly tender story about friendship in the most unlikely places, and the value of family. Dustin Hoffman's fantastic performance makes this book extraordinarily special. My seven-year-old boy loved the story as well as I did. There were a few times where I had to pause the story and explain what was happening, but most children around his age should enjoy and follow the storyline. Absolutely worth the price , I highly recommend this audiobook!!

Fantastic book

Our family loved this book! The story was easy enough for a 5 year old to follow and yet clever enough for an 11 year old. Lots of references that only parents could appreciate, as well. Dustin Hoffman is suburb as the reader.

“FIVE STARS” they said

My kids 12,10,8,&7 loved this one and honestly I did too! I would even considering this a living book by the information it gives on marsupial life. This is an innocent and beautiful story about opossums. I loved the themes of family and the Shakespeare quotes throughout. My kids were even able to point out Shakespeare quotes I didn’t even know! So a lovely read with some great educational nuggets!

A must for elementary kids!

Just so sweet and fun! My kids loved figuring out what the possums were describing and hearing it from their perspective.