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Summary
Summary
Poor Groundhog just can't sleep. He tosses. He turns. Finally, he gets out of bed and goes exploring. Outside his burrow he finds amazing sights he has never seen before: glowing jack-o'-lanterns, gobbling turkeys, and sparkling holiday lights. But shouldn't Groundhog be in bed? With no sleep how will he be able to get up for his big day?
Author Notes
Judy Cox is a former grade school teacher who is now a full-time author. Her chapter books have been compared by critics to the books of Beverly Cleary. A native of the San Francisco area, she has lived and taught in Arizona, Idaho, and Oregon. Her website is www.judycox.net.
Paul Meisel is the author and illustrator of See Me Run, a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book, and See Me Dig, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, and is the illustrator of many books for young people, including The Schmutzy Family by Madelyn Rosenberg, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book. He lives in Connecticut.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
A restless groundhog toys with the idea of timing in this perky look at the February 2 tradition (and also offers a wink at those who like to postpone bedtime). Cox's (Cool Cat, School Cat) critter has trouble following the protocol. Instead of slipping into his usual long slumber, Groundhog feels restless and gets up several times-at "half-past" October, November and December-and observes, for the very first time, all the other holiday celebrations that typically take place while he hibernates. Following each outing, he's coaxed back to bed by well-meaning friends. Kids will enjoy being in on the joke here, as they recognize symbols of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas on the appropriate spreads. Meisel (Zara's Hats) seems to revel in decorating his crisp acrylics with all the trimmings for the various fetes. Thanks to a simple, repetitive story structure and a cheery design that includes brisk autumn tones and some small panels, trick-or-treaters, turkeys and Santa Claus all seem right at home in the same story. Does this groundhog see his shadow? Only readers know. An author's note provides further details about Groundhog Day. Ages 4-8. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Although he's set his alarm clock for February 2, Groundhog is restless and keeps getting up for a wander+meeting a Halloween witch, a turkey, and Santa Claus, each of whom tucks him back into bed with a seasonally appropriate story. It's a cute idea, and the story's structure is nicely rhythmic. Painterly paneled- and full-page illustrations are both festive and cozy. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 1. It's hibernation time, and Groundhog isn't a bit sleepy. But when he ventures outside between bouts of tossing and turning, seasonal sights and sounds reveal he's been dozing more than he thinks. Children will giggle at Groundhog's distorted perceptions and his naivete about the major cool-weather holidays. Those who can't tell time, however, will need guidance from adults to fully comprehend the cleverness of an alarm clock with hands pointing to months rather than hours. Meisel's Groundhog is a dear little character, especially when he's being tucked in by holiday emissaries (a friendly witch, a turkey, and Santa), who try to lull him back to sleep. It all comes to a satisfying close when Groundhog sees his shadow on February 2 and gratefully climbs back into bed for six more weeks. An endnote discussing the tradition of using critters as meteorologists makes this a useful as well as a charming answer to the scarcity of engaging material on Groundhog Day. --Jennifer Mattson Copyright 2003 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-At last, Groundhog Day finally has an irresistible story to call its own. Groundhog goes to sleep on Columbus Day as usual, setting his alarm clock for February 2, but he keeps tossing and turning. He checks the clock and gets up at half-past October, half-past November, and then half-past December. Each time, he sees the trappings of holidays that he had always slept through before. Halloween Witch, Turkey, and Santa each take a turn tucking him back into bed, reading him a seasonal story, and giving him a holiday treat. Naturally, when February 2 rolls around, Groundhog is finally sound asleep, but he wakes up long enough to go up to the surface and see his shadow. An afterword describes the development of the Groundhog Day superstition. The text flows smoothly, and Cox makes effective use of repetition. Meisel's vibrant acrylic-and-gouache illustrations will help make this a favorite in storytimes.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Groundhog doesn't know what he's been missing when he hibernates, but a case of insomnia gives him the opportunity in this toasty story of autumn and winter festivities. Secure in the umbers and ochers of his burrow, Groundhog crawls under his quilt to catch a few months of shuteye. He tosses and turns for a couple of weeks before deciding to jump his sleep engine with a short walk. It's Halloween, a whole new experience for him to marvel at, until a kindly witch whisks him home and tucks him in. A month later, after more tossing and turning, he's back outside, and it's Thanksgiving--where a turkey does the honors; then it's Christmas and Santa. Fortunately, he sees his shadow on Groundhog Day and can catch up on his sleep. The pleasing mood and gentle pacing makes Cox's tale ideal for bedtime, and Meisel's artwork is dreamily transporting. If young readers are sharing Groundhog's insomnia, a thorough note on the origins of Groundhog Day will give them something to chew on at book's end. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
