Featuring 70 watercolor illustrations, this totally adorable gift of a book offers wisdom and insight from a delightfully unexpected source: the opossum.

Learn to live your life the opossum way with unique advice like:

The difference between a weed and a flower is often a matter of taste.It’s nobody’s business what’s in your pouch. Unless you’ve got snacks in there. In which case, you should share.A bit of risk is part of life. Cross that street, but ALWAYS look both ways beforehand.Smile! Unless someone tells you to, in which case you are well within your rights to scream.And more.

Written and illustrated by Ally Burguieres, creator of the popular Instagram account @ItsMeSesame, who spends her days as a wildlife rehabber caring for and learning from opossums, When in Doubt, Play Dead offers encouragement to embrace life’s weird, wild, and wonderful moments.

“I’m not usually the type who is able to read anything remotely in the realm of self-help or affirmation without feeling spoken down to, but the fact that the bits of wisdom in When in Doubt, Play Dead are inspired by my beloved opossums gives them a sincerity, honesty, and gentleness that simply cannot be matched.’—Patricia Thang, Book Riot

“Full of affirmations designed to make readers feel good about themselves, with a hefty dose of cuteness to help sell the message.”—Paste