No comments about Greedy Groundhogs (Pee Wee Scouts No. 22).

5 comments about Punxsutawney Phyllis.

1. This story is not only charming, but it sends the message that a girl can be anything she wants to be if she only believes in herself. As a mother of two young girls, I am always searching for a book that has this message - and the author does it so beautifully here. My four year old asks for this book to be read several times over each time we read it, which is always a sign that the text is lively and fun. But for me, it is the fact that the main character's wit, perceptions, and trust in her own instincts are the things that lead to her achievements that is the real measure of success in this book. I highly recommend it to all girls.



2. Susanna Leonard Hill's Punxsutawney Phyllis tells of a groundhog who is not like others: she loves to splash in the cold river and tromp through the snow, and is happy year-round. This Feb. 2nd she's excited about a possible early Spring - but can she awaken old Uncle Phil to make his official Groundhog Day prediction? Jeffrey Ebbeler's whimsical color drawings lend to an inviting story.



3. Susanna Leonard Hill's Punxsutawney Phyllis tells of a groundhog who is not like others: she loves to splash in the cold river and tromp through the snow, and is happy year-round. This Feb. 2nd she's excited about a possible early Spring - but can she awaken old Uncle Phil to make his official Groundhog Day prediction? Jeffrey Ebbeler's whimsical color drawings lend to an inviting story.



4. Young Phyllis the groundhog has a goal: she wants to be the next Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-forecasting groundhog who determines whether or not Spring is on its way. She's been told that no female has ever had that role, and that fact doesn't faze her in the least. She loves the outdoors, and she's got a real talent for reading the signs of Spring. When her Uncle Phil doesn't quite make the right call on Groundhog Day, Phyllis proves to him that she's got what it takes. He officially names her his successor.
   
   This is by far the best Groundhog Day picture book I've seen. The author and illustrator stay true to the facts and give us a beautiful storyline and amusing drawings to go with it. The final page of the book explains the Groundhog Day tradition. Other reviewers see in these pages a message of empowerment for girls; I see an inspiration to youngsters of both sexes to be true to their convictions and talents. And if they have the right stuff, they can succeed at anything.
   
   See my Listmania list for other Groundhog Day recommendations.



5. I enjoyed the storyline very much, it's great for little girls. Encouraging for big girls too.
   The artwork was a joy: creative, subtle and endearing. I particularly enjoyed Phyllis's Titanic pose in the midst of the spring zephyr. I bought five copies as gifts and one to keep.

No comments about February Arts and Crafts (From Your Friends At The Mailbox, Grades 1-3).

1 comments about Secret Of The First One Up.

1. Before the groundhogs go to sleep for the winter, Lila's Uncle Wilbur hints that the first one to wake up and go outside is privy to a secret. That's enough incentive for Lila: she wants to know the secret! When February comes, Lila wakes up first and tries to rouse her uncle, who is usually the first one to go out. When he doesn't want to get up, Lila goes out instead. To her amazement she is greeted by all the animals in the forest, waiting to hear her prediction. Lila doesn't know anything about the shadow-seeing business, so they explain it to her. She doesn't see her shadow, and the animals rejoice that Spring is just around the corner. "That seems backwards to me!" Lila says. She is then joined by Uncle Wilbur, who agrees that the tradition seems backwards. The two also agree to keep the secret of being the first one up.
   
   This marvelous story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations worthy of Beatrix Potter or Garth Williams. All the animals are furry and fuzzy and almost life-like. And major kudos to Iris Hiskey Arno, who is the only children's storyteller courageous enough to say that the traditional prediction-by-shadow doesn't make sense. An author's note on the final page explains the history of the Groundhog Day ritual.

No comments about Andrew Wyeth.

2 comments about Gregory's Shadow (Picture Puffins).

1. Gregory is a groundhog who loses his shadow. He and his shadow finally find each other and make a plan for Groundhog Day.

   This was a little too wordy for my class. I also think this is too abstract for the Three Year Olds I teach. They need to see the shadow stay to learn reality; the fantasy of the shadow and groundhog being separated just didn't make sense to them. But they liked the illustrations and played "catch the shadow"; a game they invented after the story time.

   Would be very good for Older Fours and Kindergarten age; especially ones in a good early learning program.




2. Skittish little Gregory Groundhog is used to having his Shadow follow him all the time, everywhere he goes. But on February 1st when Gregory ran back inside his house, he and his Shadow got separated. Each one searched for the other, and eventually they get together again, just in time for Groundhog Day. Gregory coaxed Shadow to hide closely behind him, unseen, so that winter would be soon over.
   
   This story is an interesting approach to Groundhog Day. The chalk illustrations lend texture to the pages, and even shadows -- an important part of the story -- are well portrayed. See my Listmania list for other recommendations on this topic.

No comments about Piggy Party (The Cul-de-Sac Kids, Book 19).

2 comments about Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather.

1. Geoffrey does a good job at predicting the weather the first time he has to do it. But the second year, he oversleeps and then gets distracted by the ensuing media frenzy. He eventually issues a decision based on a phone call to his mother.
   
   Simple line drawings are accompanied by the fun-to-read front pages of newspapers from Geoffrey's town. Mr. Koscielniak may have confused groundhogs with beavers, for they are all depicted with protruding front teeth. No matter: this is an amusing Groundhog Day story for the young.



2. A satire on the commercialization of holidays, our obsession with celebrity, and the media's tendency to make natural things seem unnatural, "Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather" is also a cleverly written and funny book about the secrets of Ground Hog Day. I like how author/illustrator Bruce Koscielniak bypasses a lengthy explanation of that whole things about how groundhog seeing it's shadow (or not) predicts whether we're in for more winter or a quick transition to Spring. Mrs. Goundhog, reading to Geoffrey in their cozy underground living room (with a whimsical wooden-planks-on-a-pole ladder to the side) FROM "Groundhog Lore," simply states: "If you see your shadow on Groundhog Day, go back to sleep, because winter will last six more weeks. Of there is no shadow, spring will soon be here."
   
   Geoffrey doesn't see his shadow, and tells this to Merton Moose, who sensationalizes the brief event into front page news. I wish that Bruce Koscielniak had drawn Moose as a wizened and jaded reporter, so of the Walter Matthau of moose. Geoffrey's success, and Moose's publicity results in a media event the next February. There are television cameras, lots and lots of unrelated Groundhog's Day sales and promos (e.g., a billboard for "Big Tooth toothpaste, showing Geoffrey brushing his... big tooth; the "Uptown Cuisine Restaurant" sporting a banner, "Geoffrey ate here"). The mania even gets to Geoffrey, who shows up wearing a Hollywood-ish scarf and shades.
   
   Unfortunately, when Geoffrey hurries to the ground for his prediction, there are so many cameras and people that, "I could hardly see the ground of me, much less my own shadow!"--and he has more than a shadow of a doubt about the upcoming season. Even this "failure" gets prominent newspaper and TV coverage. The consequences are humorously exaggerated; in fact, there's so much confusion that "all weather reports were canceled" until Geoffrey makes up his mind about what he saw. Fortunately, weather forecasting is in the family, and Geoffrey's off the hook thanks to Mom.
   
   The conclusion's a bit flat, though perhaps appropriate for bedtime, Geoffrey, tired from all that forecasting, goes to bed. Koscielniak succeeds at both the children and adult levels, writing a book with multi-layered appeal. I like books like this, because it means that adults won't tire of reading it over (and over) to kids. The illustrations and fanciful narrative tone are very similar to James Marshall's (of the "Worst" series, and the "Wainy" series): Casually drawn lettering, heavy use of "sketchy" lines, faces full of expression, and a light watercolor touch. Highly recommended.

1 comments about It's Up to You, Griffin!.

1. Mother Nature asks Griffin Groundhog to wake up early and let all the other animals know when Winter is over. He eagerly accepts the responsibility and revels in the honor ... until his friend Hugo squelches that enthusiasm with visions of hungry foxes and wolves waiting patiently at the burrow opening. When Griffin wakes up, he cautiously makes his way out of the burrow. He sees his monstrous shadow and scurries back to his bed in fright. After several more weeks of sleep, he wakes up to a glorious Spring day and gives the other animals the good news.
   
   This is one of the better Groundhog Day and hibernation stories for children. Susan Pickford provides a good explanation for why Winter will continue when the groundhog sees his shadow -- he's scared of it. Ramsey's colorful illustrations are animated without being cartoony. Mother Nature is portrayed as a senior citizen matron with flowers in her hair bun and mice in her apron pockets. A fun book that should entertain even the youngest children. (Make sure they find the wooly-bear caterpillars in the fall and hibernation scenes.)

5 comments about Go To Sleep, Groundhog!.

1. This is a very nice book... the illustrations are terrific and the writing is clever and amusing without being too cutesy. It's perfect for my 3-year old and I already plan to make it a birthday gift for friends.



2. Finally someone wrote a nice groundhog story that will entertain and interest young readers. It also teaches a sense of time by mentioning other holidays associated with fall and winter. Fun!



3. What I loved about this book: the illustrations, what a wonderful use of color and texture -- the language repetition that pre-readers and early readers love to hear -- the ritualistic march through fall and winter holidays -- even the dedication (how clever, how true!). There are a lot of books out there, this is one of the best.



4. This is a clever and very colorful story about a groundhog who just can't seem to get the hang of hibernation. While his peers presumably sleep from autumn until February, this Groundhog keeps waking up-just in time for the holidays he usually misses. In a coup de grace, author Judy Cox's Groundhog has an alarm clock that keeps track of time by months! Each time he wakes up, Cox's narrative repeats the following (changing only the month):
   
   "Groundhog curled up in his warm cozy bed. He closed his eyes. He tossed and turned, but he couldn't get to sleep. Finally he got out of bed. He peered at his clock. Half-past November."
   
   Each new adventure starts with the lines "Groundhog went inside. He saw things he'd never seen before," adding a sense of fresh wonder at his new experiences. At Halloween he sees the costumed children and scarecrows, and a friendly witch flies him back to bed and reads him a story. The next time he wakes up, Autumn, and he sees "tall yellow corn shocks and round orange pumpkins." A turkey flies him home and reads him a story, but not before proclaiming," It's almost winter. You should be in bed, and I should be making myself scarce." At Christmas time, who but Santa himself flies the excited Groundhog back home on his toy-filled sleigh, reading him a Christmas story, and giving him a cookie. On his big day, February 2nd, Groundhog is awakened by the alarm; he has slept very well and can scarcely believe it is time to get up already! Followed by his ever-faithful mouse pal, he goes outside and does his winter prediction duties.
   
   Paul Meisel's depiction of the friendly groundhog and the seasonal colors are appealing, and Cox's narrative premise, complemented by her gentle humor, make this interesting and engaging read. Cox also includes a one-page history of groundhog's day after the story. Bright colors, a casual personal-looking font, and nice glossy paper add to the book's appeal.



5. In many Groundhog Day stories, the main character sleeps deeply or even oversleeps. Not so here. Groundhog goes to bed on Columbus Day but keeps waking up once a month during the winter. Each time, he thinks that maybe a little walk outside will make him sleepy again. Oh, the things he sees for the first time! Witches and children dressed up in costumes. Turkeys and pumpkins. Colored lights on houses and a man named Santa Claus. At the end of each excursion, someone takes Groundhog home and reads him a bedtime story to put him to sleep. When February comes and it's truly time for Groundhog to awaken, he does so reluctantly. He leaves his burrow, sees his shadow, and then goes back to bed for six more weeks of Winter. (Reading a bedtime story to himself first, of course.) A note on the final page explains the history of the Groundhog Day ritual.
   
   Judy Cox has approached this subject in a unique way. We don't give a second thought to what we would miss out on if we were to hibernate during the winter months. And kudos to her for not giving Groundhog a human name. Paul Meisel's colorful illustrations suit the mood of the storyline and portray Groundhog as a timid but inquisitive and friendly creature. An interesting book for the season. See my Listmania list for more books about Groundhog Day.