Title: The ‘Possum In The Pool
Author: Joy Liebl
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-5434-1269-7
Pages: 28
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book /Juvenile Fiction / Animals
Reviewed By: Kathy Smith
Pacific Book Review
“Don’t fall in the pool!” Robby the ‘possum’s mother said to him when all of a sudden, splunk – oops, he fell in. This is how The ‘Possum In The Pool begins by author Joy Liebl and with illustrations by D’Lynn Roll. Sure, opossums can swim, but in this case the ledge of the pool did not allow for Robby to get out. His mother tried with her tail, tried with her hands and even tried with her nose, but Robby was swimming and getting tired. Luckily there was one spot where Robby could keep his nose above water to breathe, as he spent the entire night there, submerged in the pool, hoping the humans would come out to see him and rescue him.
The next morning that is exactly what happened. The humans pulled Robby out of the pool and with a big sneeze, the water was flushed from Robby’s nose and he was rescued. His mother was very concerned and worried for Robby, not following her directions, which is in fact the moral of the story – listen to your mother!
With a quickly moving action packed story, Robby the opossum had his close call with drowning. Pools are dangerous places and when a mother says to stay away from falling in, smart children – ‘possums or humans – should pay attention. As this book has a series of pictures showing the struggle Robby had with trying to get out of the pool, readers of this story at bedtime become aware of the danger of water and to keep away unless your mother says it’s ok.
The combination of storyline and pictures work well in this illustrated children’s book The ‘Possum In The Pool. This book will surely be one of the first choices for children reaching to their bookshelf grabbing it – wanting to be told it again – and again – at bedtime. Robby will become a good example of someone who should always listen to his mommy. Learning to swim is also important! But most importantly knowing not to go into any pool without knowing how to get out. Every day his mother reminded him to stay away from the pool and, of course, he did. This is a book with a lesson to be learned; and does a great job at both entertaining while educating children.
