Rabbit has been preparing all day for her best friend Possum's visit, but when the time comes she finds Possum fast asleep. No matter what Rabbit does, she just can't wake him up. But then a rustle in the bushes frightens Possum and sends him up a tree - where he gets very, very stuck. Rabbit has any number of ideas to get him down. Unfortunately, they all make Possum a little... uneasy. But best friends never give up. With a little creativity - and a big surprise - Rabbit just might be able to save the day.
Sleeping Possum is awoken by a rustling in the bushes of a "monster" (moose), and he runs up a tree. It's up to his friend, Rabbit, to get him down. Their back-and-forth dialogue is very funny, right up the alley of Elephant and Piggy fans. Rabbit's problem-solving attempts are captivating as she shows dogged (rabbited?) determination in getting her friend down.
The art is memorable, and the character's sweet, emotive faces and woodsy antics are reminiscent of Peter Rabbit or Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood's gang. I really hope we get more of Rabbit and Possum, and possibly additional woody friends, in future books.
Anticipating a visit from her friend Possum, Rabbit goes to great lengths to clean her burrow, only to find him napping in a field, and resistant to being woken. When he finally does get up, his fright at a nearby "monster" (AKA: moose) send him up the nearest tree. Can Rabbit get him down again, after breaking all the lower branches, while trying to follow him...?
Author/illustrator Dan Wolfekotte makes her picture-book debut with Rabbit & Possum, a sweet, gentle tale of two friends and their adventure together. I appreciated the fact that Rabbit does not give up, when faced with initial difficulties, and that Possum manages to conquer his fear of the moose. The final scene, in which all enjoy a party together, is quite heartwarming. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging new children's stories about friendship and/or learning to overcome our weaknesses.
I just read Dana Wulfekotte's RABBIT & POSSUM and couldn't wait to profess my love in a review. Oh, what a sweet couple Rabbit and Possum make!!! I had so many connections with Ms. Wulfekotte's story. I smiled when Rabbit spent the morning preparing her burrow for her date with Possum. And, like Rabbit, my sweetheart is afraid of moose, jumping at the mere thought of them approaching in the woods. I LOVE Rabbit's persistence, ingenuity and devotion to her companion. Possum might be sleepy, jumpy and reluctant, but, as we all know, we can't choose whom we fall in love with and sometimes it's the sleepy, jumpy, reluctant ones who steal our hearts. I was totally enchanted by this endearing couple!
What goes up, must come down in this playful woodland adventure story from debut picture book author - illustrator Dana Wulfekotte.
Rabbit has been busy all morning, preparing for her good friend Possum to visit her burrow. Expressive and flop-eared, she’s disappointed but not discouraged to discover that Possum is still sound asleep. Nothing Rabbit tries will rouse Possum until there is a suspicious rustling in the bushes. “DID YOU HEAR THAT?” cries Possum upon waking, and he sprints up a tree for safety.
It’s up to Rabbit to figure out a way to help Possum down so they can hold their planned playdate. Resourceful, creative Rabbit ponders, plots and plans various scenarios for his rescue. All the while she reassures the nervous Possum as he frets, frowns and nibbles his nails. Their outward conversation and internal worries, revealed through individual thought and speech bubbles, add a delightful dimension to the story and enhance the emotional connectedness of the two friends.
Can Rabbit successfully recruit a third party - a large, stern (and vegetarian) Moose to help save Possum? Will Possum trust Rabbit that the massive Moose is friend, not foe? Young readers will be compelled to continue turning pages as the action sprints smoothly from start to finish.
Wulfekotte’s illustrations feature soft, light tones. Sweaters colored aqua-blue and rich red set off the two main characters nicely. Well-textured trees and bushes depict a spare forest landscape against a bright, pale sky. Spot illustrations interspersed with single and double-page spreads keep the pacing lively and interesting. A delightful pair of comic silent onlookers, a squirrel and bluebird, seem poised to tell their own story of woodland adventures if RABBIT & POSSUM produces a spin-off sequel. Let’s hope they do!
If possum weren't the kind of animas that could easily climb down a tree on his own, I would have enjoyed this book more, otherwise the demand to suspend disbelief on this plot point is unsuccessful for me. Also, when the story comes to its climax/resolution, the action is completely skipped, and we don't get to see how the possum is actually saved.
Possum wakes with a start when he hears rustling in the bushes. He is positive that a monster is making the noise, so he sprints to the nearest tall tree and climbs up high. After chastising him for being a "scaredy-possum." Rabbit attempts to follow him up the tree. Why? Maybe he's a scaredy-rabbit? But it turns out rabbits aren't very good at climbing and when he falls he breaks the lowest limb off the tree, trapping Possum since he has nothing to step on when he wants to descend.
Time for Rabbit to come to the rescue. There are several thought bubbles showing Rabbit's funny ideas, such as a beaver gnawing through the tree trunk, birds carrying Possum down safely, and raking a pile of leaves for Possum to fall into. However, none of the problem-solving ideas makes Rabbit feel too comfortable. Meanwhile, Possum is stretched out on the limb with a speech balloon, "I'm DOOMED! I'll be stuck up here forever!" At this point, you might notice that Possum is contributing nothing to finding a way to get down safely.
Eventually, Rabbit sees a moose in the distance. The same moose that scared Possum in the first place, since the reader saw portions of it behind the bushes. But will a monster-of-a-moose be willing to help? And how?
Wulfekotte’s pencil on paper and digitally colored illustrations are very complimentary to the story.
What Concerned Me: It felt like an opportunity missed not to show Possum's fall to freedom.
What I Liked Most: Though simple, I would have to say the illustrations are a big part of this book.
And if you want to discuss anything about the story, it opens a wonderful opportunity to bring out the fact that Possum could have been problem solving himself, even if they too were silly ideas. It would have helped him feel less helpless and a bit more in control.
'Rabbit & Possum' by Dana Wulfekotte is a sweet story about two friends who are having a rough day, but end up making the most of it. When Possum is scared by a "monster" in the bushes, he rushes up a tree. While Rabbit scrambles to find a way to get Possum down safely, including getting the "monster" - which turns out to be a moose - involved, Possum all but gives up hope, sure that nothing Rabbit will do will help him escape the clutches of the tree in which he is now stuck. The fact that the moose is involved in one of the rescue attempts only strengthens Possum's resolve to stay put. The cutest solution was when Rabbit built a ladder that turned out to be way too small for what Possum needed, showing Rabbit's resolve when he continued to attempt to save his friend.
Rabbit's tried and true attempts, including bringing the thing that Possum is most afraid of - the moose - shows how sometimes being scared is only a product of not knowing enough about what one fears. Friendship and seeing how things can work out in the end despite constantly thinking to the contrary are relevant themes in this adorable story that anyone can relate to, and which is brought more to life through the simple, yet enjoyable illustrations.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
A sweet story of friendship, problem solving, and overcoming first impressions. Children who are afraid of heights will relate to Possum and his conundrum. Helpful but clumsy children can relate Rabbit. My favorite character isn't pictured on the cover, but you'll have to read it to find out why.
The art is gorgeous. I love Dana Wulfekotte's style, which I'm calling cozy-masterpiece. I wish I had better art language for it, but it's inviting and rich and full of details that hold up to multiple readings. Also I like stories with a healthy amount of snacking. This is a delicious picture book. We will be reading it again and again.
Possum gets stuck in a tree and his good friend Rabbit devises ways to get him down. He finally enlists the help of a local moose who is a wee bit cranky about it. Possum reluctantly climbs down with the help of moose and they all celebrate. There are some intriguing illustrations in Rabbit and Possum by Dana Wulfekotte. You might make a game of finding the moose in illustrations throughout the book. For ages 2 - 5. This book is reminiscent of My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rommann. Teachers and parents might make use of them in a compare and contrast lesson.
Rabbit and Possum are friends and when Rabbit gets her burrow ready for Possum's visit, Possum is no where to be found. When she finds him he has been frightened by an animal and is up a tree. Rabbits don't climb trees and apparently possums can't climb down. Problem yes. Rabbit finds the answer but Possum is afraid of the solution. Written in prose and kids who know more about animals than rabbit does will see the silliness.
This is a very funny book, with a fearful Possum (who gets stuck in a tree) and his loyal friend Rabbit. Rabbit is committed to helping his friend. He's inventive and optimistic.
The kids laughed and loved all of Rabbit's ideas.
The illustrations work perfectly with the text to tell the story.
Charming and personable story. I love rabbit's enthusiastic problem-solving (plus she is adorable). The ending is very cute, too. The characters and friendship are well rounded and the story bounces back and forth quite naturally between the text and the captions. The moose comes full circle in a satisfying way.
Rabbit has been prepping for her party with Possum all day, but when it's party time Rabbit finds Possum in a very deep sleep. Possum is startled awake by what he thinks is a flesh eating monster, and scurries up a nearby tree. It takes Rabbit all that she's worth to to get Possum down from the tree. Never one to give up, Rabbit comes up with a brilliant plan.
Cute story of friendship and overcoming fears. Humorous illustrations show the steps in the process of each of Rabbit's attempts to help Possum get down from the tree. I'm sure kids will connect with both of these characters who are so childlike, in their voices and expressions.
Totally cute story for kids with lots of humor that adults will enjoy. Rabbit's persistence--and a little help from an unexpected party--save the day, as Possum faces his fear and makes a new friend. This is a really fun read.
Rabbit is all ready for Possum to visit when Possum gets startled and stuck in a tree. Rabbit helps Possum realize that things can always look up, even when you are already up a tree. Adorable characters, story, and illustrations!
An adorable debut by author/illustrator Dana Wulfekotte! A lovely book about the enduring power of friendship that kids will want to read again and again.
Rabbit and Possum is the cutest book! And even though this book is about Rabbit and Possum, Moose has my heart :) The illustrations are just as stunning as they are cute.
A rabbit and a possum are preparing for a day together when they get scared and possum runs up a tree. Can rabbit get him down? spech bubbles nad humor make this preschool and up