There's an Opossum in My Backyard
One morning a mother opossum drops a baby, leaving a crimp in its tail; the Green family finds the little animal in the backyard, and on the pages that follow, children get a close-up look at the critter. Bogue, the curator of a wildlife museum, uses the fictional format to provide plenty of facts about opossums. Readers see the animal reacting to family pets, observing other backyard creatures (skunks, snakes, raccoons), and having sporadic interactions with humans. Predators such as owls make their presence known, too. Occasionally, the opossum is more anthropomorphized than necessary, but usually it stays true to its species. The ink-and-watercolor artwork, which varies in size and placement on the page, may not be expertly drawn, but it conveys a constant energy and vigor. The concluding page provides facts about the animals and a list of Web sites and books. Cooper, Ilene