Art Enthusiast Marilyn Wassmann Brings Magic to Another Level in an Astounding Story of Coexistence

“The Opossum and the Cats” illustrates a significant story about a mother cat who births her kittens in the den of an opossum and the two have to learn to share space and time. A book that will serve as an anecdotal reminder of how fulfilling it is to contribute not only for the benefit of others but for the benefit of one’s own happiness.

Artist and poet Marilyn Benjamin Wassmann was born in a leap year and earned four degrees—two in art history, one in library science, and one in studio art. Before retiring in 2011, Marilyn worked as an art cataloger at the Library of Congress. She has illustrated and contributed to anthologies for the Greenbelt Writers Group, and in 2010, she published a children’s book with her husband’s assistance entitled “What the Wind Blew In.” In 2016, Marilyn then published “Pen Scratching Poets,” a collection of poetry and artworks dedicated to family members, revised to its latest 2020 edition. Besides drawing and painting, Marilyn writes poetry in her spare time. She lives in Hyattsville, Maryland with her husband Paul, and some fish, one cat, and three dogs.

The book starts when an opossum snoozing in his home underneath a shed is awakened one day by the desperate plea of a cat about to give birth and needing a place for herself and her new kittens. The opossum, who generally lives alone and isolated, sleeping in the day after night roaming to forage for food, is astonished, but since opossums and cats are known to coexist, “a cat could ask the old opossum to assist.” Suddenly his den is full of kittens – “five tiny bodies arrived to stay.” He just can’t chase them out, so they begin to grow and play – and when the five curl up to sleep, they choose to do so besides the opossum’s tail, whose movements are a “special type of applause” indicating his approval as he watches them tussle and tease one another. All is going well, the cats, kittens and their host living tranquilly together, until the kittens, though warned by their mother, decide to play near a pond. The curiosity attributed to cats leads them to danger and near tragedy. That day, the old opossum will take on a new role, becoming a hero to the kittens and their mother.

Neil Czeszejko from IndieReader reviews: “Marilyn B. Wassmann’s ‘The Opossum and the Cats’ contains notes of friendship, joy, and heroism, which together comprise a thrilling tale of valor and compassion.” The Pacific Book review also writes: “‘The Opossum and the Cats’ is a work that should appear on library shelves and in cozy homes for reading and re-reading.”

The Reading Glass Books will showcase “The Opossum and the Cats” at the London Book Fair, taking place from April 18 to 20, 2023, in Olympia, London. Marilyn Wassmann’s book will be featured at The Reading Glass Books, stand number 2A114.

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