I’d like to introduce you to my dear friend, Alfred.
Today is his birthday!
He and I have gotten very close over the past four years. It all began a long time ago when I saw a cousin of his in our trashcan.
This is how Cousin first looked,
and when he saw us, this happened…
When I first met Alfred, I felt sorry for him. He was having a lot of trouble leading a happy life.
Every time Alfred got nervous, his natural instinct caused him to freeze and play dead.
Therefore, he wasn’t good at school, or sports.
And how on earth could he make any friends?
Poor Alfred was a very lonely and unhappy possum!
So, I introduced Alfred to Sofia.
Sofia is an armadillo. When Sofia feels uncomfortable, she rolls into a ball.
Alfred and Sofia became good friends and reached out to others who they noticed having some social difficulties as well.
Playing Possum has a very happy ending.
At the back of the book, I created a glossary of the cast of critters that appear in the book. I wanted to give these drawings a more realistic style, reminiscent of a dictionary.
Today, my book, Playing Possum is out in the world. I’m so excited for readers to meet these characters. My hope is that children will relate to Alfred and his friends and recognize that we all struggle to overcome challenging behaviors. It’s through patience, understanding, and kindness that we are able create a caring community and environment.
For a sneak peek at the book, check out the Playing Possum book trailer—
I would like to use this opportunity to say, “THANK YOU” to the team of amazingly talented individuals who enabled me to tell this story; To Marietta Zacker (Gallt&Zacker Literary) agent extraordinaire, to Dinah Stevenson my brilliant editor, to Sharismar Rodriguez who brought her stellar art direction and design skills to Playing Possum, and, finally, to the entire team at Clarion who worked so hard to put together the beautiful package— Thank you, all, for such a privilege.
I will very happily pick two random winners from the comments below to receive a signed copy of my book and a promotional art print. I’ll announce the winners on my next post!
Happy Birthday, Alfred!
This book looks incredible. You made my morning. I am definitely going to get this. The illustrations are awesome. Congrats Jennifer!
Thank you so much, Deb! Book Birthdays are always happy days!
So many of us can relate to those creatures who freeze up in different situations! The trailer is marvelous and I will be adding this to my must have it list for me and one for my grandchildren, and oh yes, one for my local library! HUZZAH!!
Oh thank you, Margaret! I really appreciate your enthusiasm and support for the book!
What a wonderful concept, fun characters and adorable art! Can’t wait to see this book!
I HAVE to see this book. I love the whimsical renditions of Possum Alfred and Sofia Armadillo. Somehow as a child I coupled possums and armadillos together. Did I learn about the 2 at the same time? Giraffe and Camel go together in my world too. Not sure why.
That’s really interesting, Patricia, that you paired those two animals! Thank you for your kind words. Good luck in the drawing!
What a great concept! I love this and can’t wait to read it! Congrats!
I hope you like it, Charlotte. Thanks so much for visiting and entering the giveaway!
Your art is gorgeous and the concept is one so many kids and adult readers will relate to, read after read. Happy birthday, Alfred!
Alfred and I both thank you, Lori! Thank you so much for stopping by our blog and entering the giveaway!
How appropo!!! I have a son Alfred who will soon have a birthday and has exhibited Alfred Possum’s traits…..would be wonderful to share this book with him.
That sounds like a match meant to be. Good luck in the drawing. Thank you, Judith!
Happy birthday, Alfred, and WOW! Cannot wait to meet you!!!
Thanks, Jill. Hope you two get along when you do!
Wow- this sweet and funny book screams “winner”! I can’t wait to get a copy. Congrats!
I hope you enjoy the book when you see it. Thanks so much, Danielle!
Happy Book Birthday! I love the themes running through this story. Our students would love it!
Hi Carrie! Thanks so much for visiting our blog and entering the giveaway— good luck!
Congratulations and Happy Birthday Alfred! This book sounds so welcoming and the images are joyful. All the best!
Thank you for your kind words, Mary. And for visiting and entering!
Alfred, you are adorable! Welcome to the world and certainly to a special spot on my bookshelf where I will be cautious not to startle you unduly.
“Artist’s rendering. Actual image is not unavailable.” nearly made me spit Earl Grey tea on my computer screen. LOL
Hahaha! Thank you for catching that, Cathy and glad it made you laugh. Alfred would feel very happy on your bookshelf. Good luck in the drawing!
SO adorable! I cannot wait to read this book! Love the premise and the characters. I just want to snatch them up and snuggle them. 🙂 Congratulations!
I hope you enjoy the book when you read it. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic support. And thanks for entering the giveaway, Angie!
I’m sorry to say that I’ve been neglecting my e-mails from Picture Book Builders; however, today the name: PLAYING POSSUM caught my attention and VOILA! there was the most precious cover illustration ever. I love that little chameleon and all those charming characters and can’t wait for more of Alfred and his friends. Congratulations! Your new book sounds delightful.
PS I think your idea to put the realistic animals in a glossary is great too.
I’m glad that you visited us again, Debbie. Thank you for all your kind words about the book. I’m glad you like my glossary critters. It was fun to do something a bit different for it. Good luck in the giveaway!
Jennifer, what a sweet book for shy kids or those who feel socially uncomfortable. And I LOVE the photo/illustration of you and Alfred! How original!
Thank you, Mary. Yes, I was moved by the fact that Alfred couldn’t change the way he was. But, when he learned that he wasn’t alone and had someone who cared about him— it made everything less scary. I’m glad you like our photo!
What a great post and trailer. Alfred is sure to win a lot of hearts, and I love the dictionary like drawings in your glossary. Happy Book Birthday!
Thank you, kind friend! I’m really happy that you like it. Thanks for all your help writing it!
You’re giving me way too much credit. It was all you! xo, T
Yay!!! Cannot wait to get my hands on this one!!
Hi Katie! I hope you like it when you see it. Thanks for visiting and entering the giveaway!
Just looking at the great cover made me laugh! I can’t wait to read your book, Jennifer!
I hope you enjoy the book Judy. And I’m happy that the cover made you laugh. We can all use an extra dose of that these days. Thank you!
I love the theme of this book! So clever to use the animals natural defenses to show anxiety. Can’t wait to read it. ❤️
Hi Renee, thank you so much for your praise. I hope you like the book when you read it. Good luck in the giveaway!
Happy Birthday Alfred! Jennifer, I am looking forward to sharing your lovely book with students.
Thank you, Anita! Alfred appreciates the happy birthday wishes. Good luck in the giveaway!
Another amazing and adorable book from my favorite illustrator! Welcome to the world, Alfred!
Awwww shucks, thank you, Linda. And I can’t wait to get my hands on your beautiful new book, Dinosaur Lady! Congratulations!
I love the illustrations and premise of the story. Cannot wait to read it.
Thank you, Cassie! I appreciate it. Good luck in the giveaway!
My kids were born in Australia, it would be special for them to have such a beautifully illustrated book about a possum. ?
Hi Megan, my dear Australian friend gave me Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas many years ago. It was a favorite then and still is today! Thank you for visiting and entering to win a book!
This is a wonderful idea for a book and one I needed in my life as an extremely shy kid. Even as an adult I am still shy, and still working on it. Congratulations on your beautiful book that will speak to many, many readers and start important conversations.
Thank you, Danielle for such a meaningful compliment. There would be nothing more wonderful than having one of my characters, or books, make a difference to a reader of any age. Thanks for sharing. Best of luck in the giveaway!
I love the story line; it is so applicable!!! The illustrations are a perfect match, too!!
I’m glad you like it, Lori. Thanks so much for visiting and entering the giveaway!
This is such a beautiful book! I love the watercolor technique and the colors! I’ve rarely met any possums in my town–only two or three times–and the possums (I suspect it might all have been the same possum) just hissed at me and waddled along the curb when I walked by. But I expect the hissing wasn’t anything personal. I think it was usually around dusk, and I always felt like I’d met a ghost.
Well, John, I admit that the possums that I have encountered (there have been several) were not nearly as kind and appealing as Alfred. I’m happy that you like my artwork. Thank you so much for visiting and entering the book giveaway!
Alfred is so cute & so are all the other animals. It’s hard to make friends when you’re nervous & automatically play dead. Who wants to be friends with a dead animal? Congrats on a wonderful book. It’s just gorgeous!
I appreciate you kind words, Tami. Thank you so much!
Happy book birthday!! I’m looking forward to meeting this sweet opossum!
Thank you, Amber—- for visiting, commenting, and entering the giveaway!
Happy birthday, Alfred! This book looks adorable! And what a relatable message. I’m probably going to play dead or curl up in a ball as soon as I click post comment. This is definitely a book I want to read. Congratulations!
Alfred thanks you for the Happy Birthday wishes. He is excited to meet you. Thank you so much!
Congratulations to you, Jennifer! LOVE your art and possums and this is absolutely adorable! Introvert-approved 🙂
Hah! Thank you so much, Maria. I appreciate your compliments. Good luck in the giveaway!
Congrats!!! This looks adorable! I can’t wait to meet Alfred!
I’m smitten by the adorable Alfred and Sofia and so want to read about their journey. Congratulations on this happy book birthday!
I love that word, “smitten”. I’m so glad, Claire. Best of luck in the giveaway and thank you for visiting PBB today!
This one looks like so much fun! So glad that Alfred and Sofia became friends, and will inspire a whole lot of shy kids (and former-shy-kids, now writers!) Putting it on my TBR list.
Sorry folks, something went a little wonky with the order of my replies. I hope you like the book, Buffy. Thanks for visiting and entering to win a book!
He’s very excited to meet everyone, too. A bit nervous, though. Best of luck in the giveaway and thank you!
Happy book birthday, Alfred and Jennifer! This looks delightful.
Thank you, Kathy! We are having a happy time celebrating today. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
When I lived in the Maryland suburbs, we had a possum in our backyard. She would walk by our window at roughly the same time every night. For a time, her babies came with her. They’re fascinating creatures and deserve to be in more picture books! I love that you’ve paired one with an armadillo (a creature I’ve never seen in the wild). Can’t wait to read this!
Janet, thank you for sharing your possum experience and for entering the giveaway!
An absolutely adorable book! I can’t wait to do a picture walk and read this book to find out if the title is a play on words or not! I love when I can incorporate figurative language into my reading with my English learners!
Thank you, Minday. I’m happy that you want to read Playing Possum. Good luck in the drawing!
*Sigh* If only the possums I’ve encountered in real life were as charming and adorable as Alfred. But then, that’s part of the fun of fiction, giving even creatures like ogres, trolls, wolves, cockroaches, rotten potatoes, and possums a chance to show a shinier side. Looking forward to reading Alfred’s adventure.
Yes, LeeAnn, I agree that most possums are not quite as darling as Alfred. I hope you enjoy the book when you see it. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Love this post! Congrats, Jennifer!
Thank you so much, Michelle!
I love the concept! I can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
Good luck in the giveaway, Nidhi! Thank you!
What a wonderful theme for a picture book! I wish I your book when I taught Kindergarten. The story sounds sweet and so does the relationship between the two characters. I love your illustrations. So cute!
Thanks so much for the compliments, Pamela. I hope that you enjoy the book when you see it. Good luck in the giveaway!
This book looks adorable! I would love to read it to my second grade kiddos once the school year starts up.?
Thank you for entering the giveaway, Gabrielle!
Alfred looks AMAZING! Congrats!
Thank you so much, Suzanne!!!!
Happy book birthday! I look forward to reading Playing Possum. I had a similar experience with a possum in a trashcan at a playground. My picture looks like yours. 🙂
Hahaha! You made me laugh, Sarah. Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy the book. And good luck in the giveaway!
Great idea for helping kids talk about anxiety!
Wish you much success.
I sure hope it does, Shona. Thank you! And thanks for entering to win a copy of the book!
This is adorable, Jennifer! I love the concept. Thanks for sharing the back story!
Thank you, Tina. Good to see you. Thanks for stopping by and entering!
This post had me laughing out loud! What a fun book!
I’m glad that it made you laugh, Kathy, thank you! Best of luck in the giveaway!
Cute characters, and fabulous artwork! The kids are goig to love this.
Oh I hope so! Thank you so much and good luck in the drawing!
This book looks like a great read loud! I’d love to add it to my class library. Poor possums often get a bad wrap. This would be a great way to share some possum love!
Hi Janice, I hope that it’s a fun book to read aloud? Thank you for visiting and commenting. Good luck in the giveaway!
Feliz Cumpleanos Alfred and Sofia! I think you have Bengal cousins here in Texas who want to celebrate with you. I see them out in our backyard with their babies. Big families, big plans for big celebrations! @PicBkBuilders
and
@jblackreinhardt
Hello, Lucia! Thank you so much for visiting Picture Book Builders. Best of luck in the book giveaway!
I love everything about this wonderful friendship story. Congratulations!
I’m happy that you like it, Claire. Thank you so much!
Happy birthday, Alfred and congratulations, Jennifer. I will never look at possums the same way again! I like that “children will relate to Alfred and his friends and recognize that we all struggle to overcome challenging behaviors” – maybe a few of us adults, as well. Ah-hem. 😉
I like your comment, Bridget, and I agree, re: adults as well. Thanks for your comment and good luck in the drawing!
What a wonderful book. Congrats and thanks for sharing it.
Thank you for visiting and entering the giveaway, Dorothy!
Congratulations, Jen!!! Your book sounds adorable. I love possums and their cousins, even when they steal our veggies.
Oh no! Veggie thieves! Thank you for the Congratulations and for entering the giveaway!
Love, love, love this, Jennifer! I have always had a soft spot for possums and it is a secret dream of mine (not so secret, now) that you would illustrate one of my books someday. Congratulations!
What a wonderful compliment, Cindy, thank you so much! I really appreciate that and Alfred will be pleased to know that you like possums. Good luck in the giveaway!
Happy Birthday, Alfred from a family who lives in Alfred, Maine! Such wonderful illustrations! Best of luck everyone!
Oh I love Maine! I probably would really love Alfred, Maine. I’m glad that you like the illustrations. Thank you!
Congratulations! Your book is adorable and the illustrations are precious.
I love the book trailer.
Thank you, Joan. I appreciate you saying that you like the book and the trailer. Thanks for visiting PBB and entering the giveaway.
This book looks amazing! Growing up I had a pet possum but he wasn’t as nice as Alfred. I can’t wait to read about him and Sophia.
Wow, Sheila— I never met anyone with a pet possum before. I know that people do have them. Alfred’s not really a pet. He’s pretty independent and now is out on his own. Thank you for entering the giveaway!
I was smiling the whole time I was reading your post and watching the adorable book trailer. I think Alfred is going to have that effect on many readers! Congratulations!
It makes me happy that my post and the book made you smile. And it makes me super happy to think that it might readers who care about Alfred and Sofia. Thank you so much!
Happy Birthday Alfred! This book looks like so much fun can’t wait to read it.
I hope you enjoy the book, Cindy! Thank you and thanks for entering the giveaway!
Your illustration style is one in a million! It is rare thing for a top illustrator to be a top storyteller too! Congrats! Can’t wait for this…
Oh Lina, what a kind thing to say, thank you! I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to illustrate my own stories. Good luck in the giveaway!
Oh, my gosh. So cute!
I’m really happy that you think so, Quinette! Thank you for entering the giveaway!
I am excited to meet Alfred and read his story. I know some kids who would love to be his friend!
He is much better at making friends, now, Kim. It helped him immensely to know that he was not alone. Thanks so much and good luck in the giveaway!
What a clever story idea! I live your artwork, too. Congratulations on this beautiful book!
Thank you, Doreen! I appreciate your kind words. Thanks for visiting and entering the giveaway!
This looks adorable! Thank you for sharing it with us and congrats!
This book will be perfect for my anxious, shy 5 year old grandson!!
What a sweet idea for a picture book. I can’t wait to check it out!
Congratulations, Jennifer!!! This looks completely adorable and I’m in love with Alfred and friends already. Love the story of the inspiration. Can’t wait to see it in real life! Those washes have me salivating…
✨!
This is adorable! I can’t wait to meet Alfred and Sophia. Congratulations!
This is such a sweet story. I can’t wait to get this book and share with youngsters.
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