Review by Booklist Review
K-Gr. 2. Swallow presents quite a bit of information about groundhogs in an entertaining story: as a sarcastic squirrel and crow look on and make snide remarks, a bespectacled young groundhog interviews a bigger, presumably older one, who isn't shy about enumerating his talents. Along the way, kids will learn, among other things, that woodchuck0 is another word for groundhog, that groundhogs are related to squirrels, and that they hibernate during the winter. Brunkus' humorous, colorful illustrations portray the portly braggart and his companions with wry, apt expressions on their faces, conveying their annoyance, and, despite themselves, their curiosity. Pair this with Margery Cuyler's Groundhog Stays Up Late0 ( 2005) for a festive Groundhog Day storytime. --Diane Foote Copyright 2005 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Like many celebrities, Groundhog thinks he's gotten a raw deal from the media. "Yesterday I was big news, a star, king of the mound! Everyone wanted my weather report. Today... nothing!" With help from an adoring documentarian and fellow groundhog, the star of February 2 makes his case for deeming all of February "Groundhog Appreciation Month." Swallow (It Only Looks Easy) has marshaled a host of impressive tidbits about the groundhog (aka woodchuck or whistle pig); even more important, she brings them to life with factual yet funny analogies ("My head is like a submarine periscope-my eyes, ears and nose are set up high so I can see what's around" or "We're not all that quick, as animals go. But we can run as fast as an average fourth-grader") and a snappy conversational tone. Two bystanders, a crow and squirrel, offer running commentary ("He's already the only animal with a national holiday... unless you count the turkey," observes the crow. "But look where that guy ends up at the end of the day," says the squirrel). Brunkus will be known to many readers as the illustrator of the Junie B. Jones books-and they may even recognize the same combination of spunk and vulnerability that's made the heroine so visually memorable. A nifty way to open up the idea of a minor but fun holiday. Ages 5-up. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-It is February 3 and Groundhog has decided that his holiday should last longer than one day. While telling the facts about his species to crow, squirrel, and a hog reporter, he reveals that groundhogs "can move about seven hundred pounds of dirt and rocks in one day," and that they are clever builders of burrows, they run, climb trees, and are studied by scientists. Convinced of the creature's talents, the reporter declares, "You're the Hog! Operation Groundhog will start immediately. The world will know the Hog truth." The humorous text is completed by Brunkus's finely executed, animated, watercolor-and-colored-pencil drawings.-Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA (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
(Primary) This groundhog is mad, and he's not going to take it anymore. After February 2nd, no one pays attention to him or his shadow, and he's determined to let the world know that ""Groundhogs deserve better!"" Holding forth to an unimpressed crow and squirrel (""He's getting a fat head"") and a hero-worshipping young groundhog (""Shush! This is important!""), Groundhog makes a strong case for the merits of his species. Pamela Curtis Swallow obviously has great affection for this undersung rodent, and her enthusiasm comes across in the fact-filled but far-from-dull text. As the crow and squirrel heckle Groundhog and his bespectacled protege records his every word, readers learn about groundhog behavior, habitat, food, threats, relatives (much to cousin squirrel's shock), hibernation, and more: ""My head is like a submarine periscope -- my eyes, ears and nose are set up high so I can see what's around."" Brunkus's witty cartoons collude with the lively text: what initially looks like another silly Groundhog Day spoof is actually a remarkably informative book with lots of read-aloud and classroom potential. Groundhog's campaign is successful: by the end, the crow and squirrel are converted fans; readers will be ardent marmotophiles, too. (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.
