Groundhug Day

by Anne Marie Pace, Christopher Denise (Illustrator)

Overview

★ "February holidays collide in this warm and funny story... A showstopper." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
  
"A great choice for storytime." —School Library Journal

This heartwarming picture book combines two much-loved holidays—Groundhog's Day and Valentine's Day—and shares a message about the importance of friendship and community.

Moose is having a Valentine's Day party, and all his friends are excited! Everyone except Groundhog, that is. If Groundhog sees his shadow outside, he'll hide in his hole for six more weeks and miss the party! Determined to have their friend join them, Moose, Squirrel, Bunny, and Porcupine put their heads together and come up with a clever plan.
 
With cozy illustrations by Caldecott Honor award-winning creator Christopher Denise, this season-inspired picture book is perfect for readers who are bursting for spring or snuggling up for six more weeks of winter.

"Magical." —Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316583312
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/14/2025
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.62(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Anne Marie Pace is the author of Vampirina Ballerina, Vampirina Ballerina Hosts a Sleepover, and Vampirina at the Beach, as well as several other picturebooks. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband and children, most of whom like hugs. She invites you to visit her online at annemariepace.com. 

Christopher Denise is the award-winning creator of Knight Owl, which was a New York Times bestseller; a Caldecott Honor Award winner; an ALA-ALSC Notable Book for Children; a Zena Sutherland Award winner for Excellence in Children’s Literature; was hailed as a "contemporary classic" by NPR; and was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, NPR, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, and Good Housekeeping, among many other honors. He invites you to visit him online at christopherdenise.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Groundhug Day:

* "February holidays collide in this warm and funny story... Denise’s digital illustrations have the lushness of oil paintings, and his image of Groundhog staring at his shadow in shock, his robe tied tight and mug of coffee dropped on the fieldstone walkway, is a showstopper.... Pace nimbly balances the rewards of trying new things against the necessity of compromise."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A moose and his forest friends are busy planning a Valentine’s Day party, but one aspect of the organizing stops them in their tracks.... The light and shadows in the artwork are magical, a golden glow pervading the spreads. Readers may learn a thing or two about both being a friend and getting over their own fears."—Kirkus Reviews

"A great choice for story time."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

★ 10/16/2017
February holidays collide in this warm and funny story: Moose is planning a Valentine’s Day party and insists that “Everyone has to come.” But if Groundhog sees his shadow the next day, “he’ll go back into his hole for six more weeks.” As Moose, Bunny, Porcupine, and Squirrel debate how to keep Groundhog from seeing his shadow, dawn breaks and Groundhog ventures outside. Denise’s digital illustrations have the lushness of oil paintings, and his image of Groundhog staring at his shadow in shock, his robe tied tight and mug of coffee dropped on the fieldstone walkway, is a showstopper. The revelation that Groundhog is scared of shadows sends the story in a new direction (and sets off more bickering). Pace nimbly balances the rewards of trying new things against the necessity of compromise. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. Illustrator’s agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

12/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—A Valentine's Day party gives five friends an opportunity to learn about friendship and show each other how much they care. It's just two weeks until Valentine's Day and Moose is planning a big party for all his friends. But when he realizes that Groundhog's Day is in the morning, Moose begins to worry that if Groundhog sees his shadow he'll go back into his burrow for six weeks and miss the gathering. Together Moose and his friends try to find a way to prevent Groundhog from seeing his shadow so that he'll stay above ground and celebrate Valentine's Day with them. The front cover is filled with hearts, pinks, and reds, but within the spreads are composed of neutral and cozy textured hues with many interesting shadows. The softly blended lines add depth and warmth to the fur and quills of the charming animal characters. Groundhog looks appropriately stuffy in his cap, cane, and tweed coat. VERDICT This versatile book is a great choice for storytime or one-on-one enjoyment and the messages of friendship and understanding differences are suitable for year-round enjoyment. A great addition to most collections.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library

School Library Journal

2017-10-30
A moose and his forest friends are busy planning a Valentine's Day party, but one aspect of the organizing stops them in their tracks.Squirrel's got the balloons covered, Bunny's on the cards, and Porcupine is practicing hugs. But when Moose announces that everyone has to come, Bunny points out a potential problem: if Groundhog sees his shadow, he'll go back to sleep and miss the party. The animals try to devise clever solutions, but they argue so long about which is best that they miss their opportunity: Groundhog's already seen his shadow and gone back inside. When the friends surmise that he is afraid of shadows, they each propose a fun way to ease his fears, and they are successful. But to their disappointment, Groundhog is still going back to bed: it's cold. They do receive "Groundhugs" beforehand, though. Six weeks later Groundhog emerges sporting a jaunty green suit and top hat, ready for a St. Patrick's Day party. But now Bunny is mysteriously holed up….Denise's digital illustrations anthropomorphize the friends, who walk on their hind legs. Most are accessorized and/or clothed, and they are surrounded by familiar human sights: houses, furniture, teacups. The light and shadows in the artwork are magical, a golden glow pervading the spreads. Readers may learn a thing or two about both being a friend and getting over their own fears. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews