Review by Booklist Review
K-Gr. 3. Why does a groundhog seeing his shadow mean six more weeks of winter? Old explains this and more in her informative book about Groundhog Day. The book begins with an introduction to Punxsutawney Phil and shows how one groundhog started a holiday and a celebration in Pennsylvania. The book goes on to discuss the reasons seasons change (this chapter seems misplaced) and behavior, life cycle, and hibernation habits of groundhogs (aka woodchucks, whistle pigs, and marmots). There's also information about other animals around the world that perform the same function as Phil. Sprightly watercolor pictures jumping with cartoon-style groundhogs work hand in hand with the clearly stated information. Cute projects complete the package. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2005 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Billin-Frye's illustrations are so engaging that readers may, at first glance, think that this is a simple picture book. However, the table of contents and densely packed pages of text tell a different story. The first chapter opens with a detailed description of an early morning scene on February 2 in Punxsutawney, PA: the crowds, the fireworks, the music, and the magical moment when the Groundhog Handler reaches into an artificial tree stump, rudely awakens furry Phil, and "listens" to his prediction. The writing sometimes succeeds at being lighthearted, but it's heavy going when the author uses words like "prognosticator," "verdict," and "groundhogeese." The high point of one chapter is the color-splashed painting of a happy, dancing crowd; a smiling man is holding aloft a puzzled groundhog that is thinking, "Why they're celebrating six more weeks of winter, I just don't know." Other chapters cover "The Reason for Seasons," facts about groundhogs, details about hibernation, the beginnings of the groundhog festival, other animals famous for predicting the weather, and directions for putting together a Groundhog Day party. Unfortunately, the information is not always clearly presented. The author also makes inscrutable decisions about which words to define and which to assume that kids will know. Teachers or parents using this book with children will need to pre-read and then provide some of their own explanations. Still, this title provides some important facts that will slake curiosity, some groan-evoking riddles, and consistently adorable illustrations.-Susan Weitz, Spencer-Van Etten Schools, Spencer, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Groundhogs have reached near star status, and this book explains why. The origins of the critter's supposed forecasting abilities, the reason for seasons, celebrations around the country, corny riddles, and facts about hibernation fill the text-heavy pages with more than most people want to know. Whimsical illustrations help to pace the information. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Peppered with quirky little boxed riddles ("What is a groundhog's favorite book? HOLES, by Louis Sachar"), this look at the major hole-digging animal in the eastern US delivers the facts and fun it promises. Readers learn that "groundhogs are woodchucks are whistle pigs are marmots," that groundhogs perform the important job of aerating earth and creating topsoil, and that "nothing gets wasted in nature." Along the way, they are entertained by Billin-Frye's lighthearted, comic watercolor illustrations of this denizen of the dirt in all his grime and glory, and by deftly delivered facts and figures (and party plans, complete with suggestions for games, shadow activities, food, and crafts) about groundhogs past and present and about the interesting evolution of Groundhog Day. A final page of riddles will leave readers grinning. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
