State Library of Louisiana Library System

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Why the possum has a large grin : a Choctaw tale

2012

Format:	Book
Author:	Downing, Johnette.
Title:	Why the possum has a large grin : a Choctaw tale / adapted by Johnette Downing ; illustrated by Christina Wald.
Publisher, Date:	Gretna, Louisiana : Pelican Pub. Company, 2012.
Description:	1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm illustration
Summary:	"Sly Possum is manipulative and knows that the very hungry Deer will do anything to reach the beautiful persimmons waiting in the tree. Possum is hungry as well, but does not feel like helping Deer--he's just too lazy! Possum could simply climb the tree and knock down the fruit, but he prefers to trick Deer into doing all the work. Deer tries his hardest to get the persimmons down, but Possum only laughs and laughs. What results is a change in both of them that lasts forever."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects:	Choctaw people -- Folklore. Tricksters.
Other Author:	Wald, Christina, illustrator.
LCCN:	2011048313
ISBN:	9781455616398 (hc : alk. paper) 1455616397 (hc : alk. paper) 9781455616404 (e-book) 1455616400 (e-book)
Other Number:	775269149
System Availability:	4
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# Local items:	4
# Local items in:	4
Current Holds:	0

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Trade Reviews

Horn Book Review

Downing's pourquoi tale transforms a Choctaw legend into a mean-spirited story about the origin of possums' large grins and deer's antlers. Although the story begins with some promisingly lively language, the narration flattens out, and neither the trickster Possum nor the naove Deer develop much appeal. Wald's illustrations are static, and the absence of background information limits the book's value. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

Possum convinces hungry Deer to bang his head into a tree full of ripe persimmons, a sight that amuses the trickster so much that his grin sticks forever. Downing (Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud, 2009) adapts this Choctaw legend, extending the narrative and adding an embellishment. Not only does Possum get a grin, the bumps that rise on Deer's battered head grow into antlers--two origin stories in one. The author begins her tale in a traditional storyteller's manner: "Sometime past, there was one long, long, very long dry season north of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana." Hints of dialect continue--"go to the top of that there hill"; "hit this here persimmon tree so hard"; and so forth--but, surprisingly given the experience of the writer, a longtime children's musician and entertainer, her narrative feels forced. It doesn't flow smoothly as a read-aloud, and the story arc is flat. Wald's lifelike acrylic paintings focus on the two main characters, often placed against a plain background. They show well. But this Possum has little personality. For a possum pourquoi tale with real child appeal, choose Colleen Salley's Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail, illustrated by Janet Stevens (2004). Finally, the title lacks the customary background and source information usually provided about traditional material. Nothing to smile about. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Summary

Move over Bre'r Rabbit, there's a new trickster in town! When hungry Deer asks Possum how he stays so plump during the long dry season, the sly marsupial gets an idea. It wouldn't take much for Possum to help Deer; he could just climb that ol' persimmon tree and knock down the fruit. But Possum is just plain lazy and he'd rather trick Deer into doing the work for both of them. Once Possum decides to take advantage of his starving neighbor they both become marked forever.

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