Reviews
Praise and Accolades for Counting by 7s : * "A graceful, meaningful tale featuring a cast of charming, well-rounded characters who learn sweet-but never cloying-lessons about resourcefulness, community, and true resilience in the face of loss."- Booklist (starred review) * "What sets this novel apart from the average orphan-finds-a-home book is its lack of sentimentality, its truly multicultural cast (Willow describes herself as a "person of color"; Mai and Quang-ha are of mixed Vietnamese, African American, and Mexican ancestry), and its tone. . . . Poignant."- The Horn Book (starred review) * "Willow's story is one of renewal, and her journey of rebuilding the ties that unite people as a family will stay in readers' hearts long after the last page."- School Library Journal (starred review) * "A deeply original tale . . . Readers will rejoice." - BCCB (starred review) New York Times Bestseller E.B. White Read Aloud Award Honor ALA Notable Book YALSA Best Book for Young Adults Booklist Best Fiction for Young Adults Booklist Notable Children's Book BCCB Blue Ribbon Book School Library Journal Best Books of 2013 Horn Book Fanfare Title NYPL 100 Books for Reading and Sharing Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People Teachers' Choices Reading List Notable Children's Book in Language Arts
Synopsis
Fans of E.B. White and Dick King-Smith will adore this heartwarming and funny animal adventure by the award-winning author of Counting by 7s Mama has trained up her baby possums in the ways of their breed, and now it's time for all of them--even little Appleblossom--to make their way in the world. Appleblossom knows the rules: she must never be seen during the day, and she must avoid cars, humans, and the dreaded hairies (sometimes known as dogs). Even so, Appleblossom decides to spy on a human family--and accidentally falls down their chimney The curious Appleblossom, her faithful brothers--who launch a hilarious rescue mission--and even the little girl in the house have no idea how fascinating the big world can be. But they're about to find out With dynamic illustrations, a tight-knit family, and a glimpse at the world from a charming little marsupial's point of view, this cozy animal story is a perfect read-aloud and a classic in the making., 'Possums,' Mama says, 'are the true performers of the animal kingdom. And all the world's a stage.' Young Appleblossom, the smallest one in her family, needs to find the role that she was born to play. She may be tiny, but she's not timid, and when she accidentally falls down a chimney, she discovers that she's also daring and quite clever. She'll need to be- Inside the house are some of the monsters her mama has warned her about - the ones called dogs and people! The curious Appleblossom, her faithful possum brothers (who launch a hilarious rescue mission), and even the lonely girl in the people's house are all about to discover new, amazing things about life, love, and how to act.
