Possum Come A-Knockin'

by Nancy Van Laan and George Booth

Book Overview

Illus. in full color. "While Granny is a-rockin' and a-knittin' and Ma's a-cookin' and Pa's a-fixin', that old possum in his top hat and vest just keeps on knocking. The narrator, a redheaded boy, tries to tell family members about the possum, and when the family checks, the possum hides. Should be popular with story-hour groups."-- Booklist.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679834680
• ISBN13: 9780679834687
• Release Date: August 1992
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 9.0" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 3 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

A family Favorite!

Delightful story and so fun to read to the kids. Years later, when they have all grown up and off on their own, I ordered this just to have a copy, even though I can 'sing' the entire book from memory. Rhythmical and silly, it builds in tension until the very end (which I won't reveal as that would be a spoiler) and the pictures of the strange family reacting is priceless. While I might still jump a mile when "a possum come a-knockin" at MY door, I will always have a place in my heart for the ugly little trespassers and the beady little eyes. Off to make my dinner , clean a little more .... cuz a possum could come knockin' at my door

Possum

My family's all-time favorite read-aloud book. This is the only book I was ever willing to read as many times as it was requested. The story and illustrations are whimsical and fun and the rhythm rolling and delightful. A "must have" for any family library.

From a Teacher

Possum Come a Knockin' Nancy Van Laan Illustrations by George Booth A mischievous, well-dressed trickster, Possum, knocks on the door of a busy country family. Chaos ensues with hollerin', fussin' and cussin' when Possum's knockin' disrupts Granny's knittin', Ma's cookin', Pa's fixin', Dawg's a twitchin' and a scratchin' and Pappy's whittlin'. When the whole family stops their activities and quietly opens the door to see who is knocking, wily Possum sneaks off. The Southern dialect brings this knee-slapping, rhythmic, chanting story to life. George Booth's creative illustrations of the family, their pets and the top-hatted Possum add more facets to this tale with his hilarious visual gags. This funny, quirky story will quickly become a favorite of the whole family. Nancy Van Laan's toe-tapping tale with its rich vernacular is often incorporated into primary classroom instruction in music for its rhythm and also in Language Arts instruction as an example in dialects. Possum Come a-Knockin' is a 1990 Parents' Choice Award Winner. BIBLIO: 1992, A Dragonfly Book Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 3-9, $14.99. REVIEWER: Sheila Daughtry FORMAT: Picture Book ISBN: 0-679-83468-0 ISBN: 0679847839

What'd you do if the wildlife started knocking on your door?

Well, a "Possum come a-knockin' at the door, at the door. Possum come a-knockin' at the door." This possum. By simply knockin' manages to send the whole house into uproar.This is a great book to read out loud because the words have a natural rhythm and the story sounds much better read out loud because of it. The story flows wonderfully; it has to the way it was written. The illustrations are also very good. They do an excellent job of capturing the emotions- the devilish smile on the possum's face, the frustration of the narrator, and the bewilderment of the rest of the family.For all its many wonderful characteristics, the way this book reads is what makes it so special and unique.Loggie-log-log-log

What a riot !...

I do not read poetry to my children. English is not my native language and, to my dismay, I am "tone-deaf" to English rhyme. This little book was a rear and happy exception. We read it over and over and over - the whole family was chanting and enacting "possim", who "came a-knockin' on the door, on the door..." I hope, you will discover what a riot it is to chant and play possim rhymes with your 3-year old.

A story that dances with people and a delightful possum.

Both my daughter and I used this delightful book in our classrooms and the children were entranced. In my music classroom we made up a game to extend the fun.