Phil's big day

The night before groundhog Phil is due to predict whether winter is staying or going, he has major performance anxiety. While everyone's in bed, he works to soothe his nerves by doing what he does best--whipping up pancakes--until sister Marla enters the kitchen excited about the event. Phil quickly spirals in response to her question about what could go wrong ("WHAT IF I FORGET WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO AND MESS IT ALL UP?"), and Marla offers a mnemonic rhyme to help him carry out the family tradition. When Phil nevertheless remains jittery on February 2, he reaches for a support in the form of Marla's ceremony savvy. Together, their shadows predict six additional weeks of winter, and a much-relieved Phil returns to his skill set: cooking pancakes. Digitally collaged images by Woodruff (Once Upon a Winter Day) contrast the snugness, both emotional and physical, of the groundhog family's lives with more elaborate scenes of Phil's frantic state of mind, pulling readers along to a revelation that asking for help can make a big moment--and an asker--all the better. A recipe and more about the holiday conclude. Ages 4--8. (Nov.)

Phil the groundhog fights nerves on his family's biggest day of the year. The night before Groundhog Day, Phil is too worried to sleep. His family has high expectations for him tomorrow--what if he messes up when he makes his big announcement? With some assistance from little sister Marla, however, Phil pulls it off. Together, the siblings tell the waiting crowd of anthropomorphic animals that they still have six weeks of winter to go. Readers who have felt overwhelmed by anxiety will relate to Phil, whose feelings are cleverly captured by the illustrations. In one scene, Phil sits in bed surrounded by looming thoughts of his parents and siblings, who dwarf him in size. On another page, a winding trail of questions swirls around him: "What if I shake? What if my voice is too soft?" And when the big day rolls around, the other animals are depicted in shadowy silhouettes with unnerving stares. Happily, though, readers also see Phil try a variety of coping methods: distracting himself by making pancakes, talking through his feelings and rehearsing with Marla, and ultimately seeking out help in making a successful proclamation. His world brims with delightful details, from the little underground rooms for each member of the family to the adorable accessories depicted on the endpapers. The book concludes with a recipe for "Phil's Pancakes" and a brief explanation of Groundhog Day. A sweet and candid representation of anxiety, with a creative twist.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.