Playing Possum

Written & illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt

A shy possum and an anxious armadillo discover friendship through their unique defense mechanisms.

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 198 ratings

32 pages· 278 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Alfred, a shy possum, plays dead when anxious, making friendship elusive. Enter Sophia, an armadillo who curls into a ball when nervous. Together, they navigate their fears, discovering the power of patience and understanding. As they open up to each other, they learn to help other creatures overcome social barriers. Can their newfound friendship inspire others to connect despite their defenses? This charming tale explores the journey of mastering fear and shyness, with real animal behaviors adding a fascinating twist.

From the publisher

Meeting strangers makes shy possum Alfred anxious, and he plays dead. So he has trouble making friends—until Sophia the armadillo reveals that when she gets anxious, she rolls up in a ball. A witty friendship tale inspired by animal behavior.

In this winsome tale, Alfred, who plays dead, and Sophia, who rolls up in a ball, stand in for shy or anxious humans whose discomfort keeps them from fitting in. Jennifer Black Reinhardt has cast animals with defense mechanisms as characters to tell an imaginative, endearing story about learning to make friends by mastering fear and shyness. Alfred and Sofia open up to each other and go on to help other creatures who have social difficulties by practicing patience, forgiveness, and friendship—tools for overcoming the barriers that keep us from connecting with others. An author’s note lists real animals and their defensive behaviors.

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