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Groundhug Day

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Moose is having a Valentine's Day party, and all his friends are so 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 help their friend join them, Moose, Squirrel, Bunny, and Porcupine put their heads together and come up with a plan. But will it be enough to get Groundhog out to play? This heartwarming picturebook by the author of Vampirina Ballerina, with adorable illustrations by Christopher Denise, is sure to be a hit, whether readers are bursting for spring or snuggling up for six more weeks of winter.

48 pages, Hardcover

First published December 5, 2017

6 people are currently reading
500 people want to read

About the author

Anne Marie Pace

18 books69 followers
Anne Marie Pace is a picture book author. She is the author of the VAMPIRINA BALLERINA series, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, published by Disney-Hyperion starting in 2012, which is in production as a Disney Junior animated series to debut in 2017; and PIGLOO (Henry Holt, illustrated by Lorna Hussey, October, 2016). Her upcoming books include GROUNDHUG DAY (Disney-Hyperion, illustrated by Christopher Denise, December, 2017), and BIG-EYED BUG (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon, 2018), as well as the new VAMPIRINA AT THE BEACH, coming in April 2017. Past books include NEVER EVER TALK TO STRANGERS and A TEACHER FOR BEAR, both published by Scholastic Book Clubs. She lives with her family in Virginia.

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5 stars
186 (25%)
4 stars
327 (45%)
3 stars
174 (24%)
2 stars
26 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
Profile Image for Calista.
5,436 reviews31.3k followers
February 8, 2020
This is the perfect Holiday book for February. It straddles Groundhog Day and Valentine's day and then ends with St Patricks Day and Easter, just a nod to them. I love this wonderful little story.

Groundhog Day wasn't much more than a curiosity until the movie "Groundhog Day' came out in the 90s. I watch that movie yearly and I think it's brilliant. So now, I really enjoy groundhog day, but there isn't much else out there besides the movie. I found this book sitting at the library, just waiting for me. I didn't even notice the title was groundHUG day until I sat down at home to read it.

The animals, moose, squirrel, rabbit and porcupine are setting up for their Valentine's party. They want to invite Groundhog and realize that if he sees his shadow, he won't be able to come to the party. The friends plan to keep him from seeing his shadow, but they can't make a plan and he sees his shadow and goes back inside. They figure out groundhog is scared of shadows. So, each one shows groundhog why shadows are fun. Groundhog spends a few days playing in the shadows. Then, he says he has to go back inside for 6 weeks because it's too col. He misses the party.

He does give everyone a great groundhog hug before he goes. He comes out at St. Patrick's day dresses all in dapper green and wonders where rabbit is. He missed the Valentines party, which looked like it was going to be real fun.

The artwork looked like it was computer generated, but it had a lot of atmosphere and color. It was cozy and the animals were fun. This is one of my favorite books of the year so far.

The nephew thought this was a great story. He loved the porcupine doing shadow puppets on the wall and he loved the book being about the 2 holidays. He thought rabbit and squirrel were funny and he loved all the squabbling. He gave this book 3 stars. He wants a Michael Jackson doll of Valentines Day. He's still dancing to MJ.
Profile Image for Melki.
7,350 reviews2,630 followers
February 2, 2020
The author manages to kill two holidays with one stone by skillfully combining Groundhog's Day AND Valentine's Day. What an admirable feat!

In this warm and fuzzy tale, Groundhog can come to Moose's Valentine's Party ONLY if his pals can keep him from seeing his shadow on February second. Many scientific calculations and STEAM-related activities later, it all culminates in a very cute, funny ending. And, the artwork by Christopher Denise is all kinds of adorable!

description

The perfect book to read whilst listening to the live-stream from Gobbler's Knob, as an enthusiastic crowd eagerly awaits the annual appearance of Punxsutawney Phil. Who'd a thunk there could be so many songs about groundhogs? And, then - fireworks at 6:30 in the morning! Perhaps the residual smoke lingering in the sky will keep our whistle-pig from spotting his shadow . . . (updated at 7:28) AND, after "choosing" the scroll that was shoved at him, a very sleepy-looking, but cute Phil predicts - dun-dun-duh - AN EARLY SPRING!

Happy Groundhog Day everyone!
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,796 reviews
February 11, 2020
Pretty darn cute. Sure, a few parts might be a wee bit twee but I forgive it. I like how the friends are sensitive to groundhog actually being afraid of his shadow. "But shadows aren't scary" one of the friends say to the others. "They are to groundhog," says another. So, they try to show groundhog ways that shadows can be fun or interesting. The illustrations are really fun and I especially love the stylish groundhog and the diagrams the friends make when they are trying to explain ways to keep the groundhog from seeing his shadow. The little surprise at the end made me smile. My four-year-old has asked for multiple reads so thumbs up from him, too.
Profile Image for Erica.
1,476 reviews500 followers
December 19, 2017
On February 1st, Moose starts planning a grand Valentine's Day party with the help of Squirrel, Rabbit, and Porcupine. They're inviting everyone but worry that if Groundhog sees his shadow on February 2nd, he'll return to his hole and will miss the Valentine's Day party. They bicker for so long about how they're going to keep Groundhog from seeing his shadow that they miss Groundhog coming out of his hole altogether.
Hijinks ensue.

The story is cute but the real point of this book is getting lost in the lush, colorful, adorable, incredible illustrations. From the ridiculously it's-so-fluffy critters and the serious, imposing Moose to the woodland landscapes, every page is a delight, a feast for young and old eyes alike.

Profile Image for Carrie Charley Brown.
307 reviews309 followers
December 3, 2017
Lovingly titled, Ground(hug) Day mashes up four long-time holidays, one of them being Valentine’s Day. Nestled in beautiful scenery by New York Times bestselling illustrator, Christopher Denise, our animal friends show tons of heart. Anne Marie Pace pins the ‘tale’ on Moose’s Valentine party, where everyone important must come to join him. But when you have a friend who retreats at the sight of his shadow right before Valentine’s Day, perfect attendance becomes impossible.

As the animals work their way through possible solutions, Groundhog emerges to see his shadow. This is where the story launches into an inquiry-based learning sequence that models many activities for preschool-2nd grade students. Alongside Moose, children can explore how to make shadows dance. They’ll enjoy exploring Bunny’s silhouette drawing segment, Squirrel’s cloud study, and Porcupine’s shadow puppets. With the four-holiday mash-up, students might also internalize a unique sense of time by creating a holiday timeline for each season.

The story addresses the whole child by highlighting social disagreements between friends, the value of listening to all ideas, and communicating to solve problems. Speaking to so many different areas of child development, this story ranks high on the useful meter.

I received a copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Andrea Wright.
998 reviews18 followers
February 3, 2019
Absolutely adorable story and fantastic artwork. I need to purchase the book for my personal collection to read each year with the kids.
Profile Image for Marsha.
Author 2 books39 followers
February 5, 2019
Various holidays get their time and attention but, aside from one kooky movie starring Bill Murray and any number of knockoffs, this day is kind of a joke (except in Philadelphia). So it’s interesting to see a book about a bunch of animals trying to get the shadow-fearing animal to attend Moose’s Valentine’s Day party.

The anthropomorphic beasts bicker about the best way to tackle the problem. Finally they simply talk to the timid beast. The solutions are fun and clever, with perhaps a hidden message for the shy indoor child to explore the outdoors rather than stay within closed spaces, even on chilly days. But the groundhog has his two cents to put in about the benefits of remaining in a cozy, warm home.

The book manages to rope in mention of two more holidays, covering multiple bases. The illustrations are lovely too, with the creatures being charming and cute. The story celebrates the efforts we go to when we want to draw our friends within our circles and the joys of makers who bring happiness to others. The last picture is a real hoot, showing Bunny industriously toiling away in his workshop for HIS particular holiday.

Sweet as candy, warm as a hot water bottle, Groundhug Day is a tender tribute to friendship and tolerance.
Profile Image for Diane.
7,290 reviews
February 10, 2018
Moose wants to have a Valentine's Day Party, but if Groundhog sees his shadow, Groundhog won't be able to attend. So Squirrel, Bunny, Porcupine and Moose try to solve this problem. They bicker about it for so long, though, that Groundhog emerges and sees his shadow. Now what do they do?

Adorable illustrations.
Profile Image for Susie.
1,935 reviews23 followers
September 22, 2019
Cute idea, just a bit Disney-fied for me. I can see many teachers and librarians reading this around February 1-2, and students could try several different things with shadows. I would encourage students to find out the traditions behind Groundhog Day. I had to wonder why they didn't just decide to have the party in Groundhog's den; it would have met all of his criteria.
Profile Image for Tj Shay.
209 reviews
October 25, 2017
A great story that will have you smiling and amazing Christopher Denise illustrations to add to the story. A wonderful book.
Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.7k reviews102 followers
December 28, 2017
Oh, my goodness. these are the most darling illustrations I've seen in a long time. Wonderfully adorable.
Profile Image for Dianne Butts.
Author 13 books171 followers
January 23, 2022
Delightful! Lovely story. Very clever. Illustrations are gorgeous. Yes,, I'd recommend this sweet book..
Profile Image for Ashley.
875 reviews36 followers
January 15, 2024
This is a cute one! I like that it combines the two holidays that I can teach my 3 year old about. While we have plenty of books about Valentine's Day, there aren't a ton of options to teach him about Groundhog Day.
16 reviews
January 18, 2022
This picture book by Anna Marie Pace depicts a story about a Moose that is throwing a Valentine’s day party with his friends except for their friends Groundhog because he is still hibernating. Groundhog expresses to his friends that he is scared of his shadows and so his friends all convince him that there is nothing to be scared of and that shadows are cool. Then, it became too cold for Groundhog again and so he fell back asleep until St. Patrick's Day but then Bunny went into his hole until the next spring.

I liked this book a lot because it was a very cute story and it depicted a very good story that teaches the reader about hibernation. This book was not as colorful as I thought that it might be and there is not a name of the book on the front cover which I think can become very confusing to younger students.

I would use this book in my classroom in a unit about hibernation. This book is very clear with talking about it and explains hibernation very well throughout the story.
Profile Image for Mildred Stewart (EDUC378).
12 reviews
February 9, 2023
Text-to-Teaching Connection: "Groundhug Day" is a very versatile story and can cover a myriad of teachable lessons. The month of February theme the activity can cover Valentine's Day as well as Ground Hog Day. Staying consistent with science various animals are presented in this story where a compare and contrast on just the features. A social studies lesson on friendship and working together. The story shares a group of friends having a celebration and one person would be missing. They come together and figure out a way to convince and provide comprise for everyone to be involved in the celebration some how.
Profile Image for Kirsti Call.
Author 6 books64 followers
December 6, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Disney Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.

Groundhug Day is a delightful story of friendship. Moose wants to have a Valentine's Day party, but he knows his friend, groundhog will not be able to attend if he sees his shadow. The animals work together to come up with a solution. They first think of ways to keep groundhog from seeing his shadow. When they discover that shadows frighten Groundhog, they work together to show him all the ways that shadows are fun. Kids will love all the animal's activities and may want to try shadow puppets and drawing silhouettes at home!

The story touches on 4 holidays; Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter so it's great for classrooms discussions on holidays. The lovely illustrations and heartwarming text make it a great read aloud.

But my favorite part of this book is the emphasis on working together. The difference between bickering and working together is an important and essential part of this story; one I think every person can benefit from. I love that the friends discover the benefits of cooperating and thinking about how their friends feel. This story will evoke discussion about what it means to be a friend, and how to discover solutions together.
Profile Image for Arminzerella.
3,746 reviews93 followers
December 11, 2017
Moose plans a Valentine's Day party for February 14 and tries to come up with a way to make sure that his friend, Groundhog, will be able to attend. On February 2, if Groundhog sees his shadow, he'll go back to his burrow for 6 more weeks of winter and will miss the party. Moose and his animal friends brainstorm ideas to prevent this from happening, but they miss their opportunity to implement any of their schemes and the worst comes to pass! Once they realize that Groundhog is actually scared of shadows, they manage to allay his fears and show him how much fun they can be. The animals spend a lovely day together, but Groundhog still insists on returning to his burrow (and missing the party). He does distribute "Groundhugs" all around and even a nose-kiss (for Porcupine), and eventually emerges just in time for St. Patrick's day. But now, where is Rabbit? A colorful and funny story that kids and adults can enjoy together - especially if they already have some familiarity with these traditional holiday stories (Groundhog Day, Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter). The drolly-dressed Groundhog is also delightful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,065 reviews42 followers
February 24, 2018
A variety of animals are getting ready to plan a Valentine's Day party and they want to include their groundhog friend. Since it's Groundhog Day, they try to come up with a plan to keep their furry friend around until their party. When the groundhog sees his shadow, his friends discover that he's afraid of shadows and try to find some ways to help him face his fears. The groundhog gives all of his friends a groundHUG and tells them that he'll see them in 6 more weeks. A sweet friendship story that's a great choice for February 2.
Profile Image for Gmr.
1,252 reviews
January 11, 2018
Moose and friends are preparing for their upcoming Valentine's Day party, but it just won't be the same without everyone there. But how does one convince a groundhog to stay out of his den when he's seen his shadow? A most pushing dilemma, but one these friends are more than up for...if groundhog will cooperate that is.

A charming story filled with heart, humor, and good intent, and overflowing with cheerful illustrations that'll bring a smile to your face.


*copy received for review
Profile Image for Kimberly Sabatini.
Author 1 book383 followers
December 29, 2017
There were so many wonderful things about Pace's GROUNDHUG DAY--the celebration of multiple spring holidays, team work amongst friends and the acceptance of the quirky likes and dislikes of others. Parents and teachers will be able to take this book into so many wonderful directions, all while being fascinated by the spectacular illustrations. You're going to want to hug this sweet story.
Profile Image for SLoMoe.
268 reviews
January 3, 2018
This book was so cute. We loved it. The illustrations were very well done. The text was delivered on the pages to help the reader get more from the story. I loved the group’s need to keep the groundhog from missing the valentines party. I loved the ending with st Patrick’s day and Easter. I loved that it was just a group of nice friends - a simple story.
Profile Image for Kat Harrison.
Author 2 books5 followers
March 11, 2018
This fantastically illustrated fable is a kind story of friendship (through the lens of woodland creatures), with a clever holiday twist. The narrative was beautifully poised, but I was slightly disappointed that the premise wasn't carried to fruition by the end - I so badly wanted to see the efforts of their Valentine's Day soiree.
Profile Image for Katie.
2,102 reviews9 followers
September 27, 2019
I thought I might really like this one, since I really like the cover and the artwork.

But the story was ho-hum for me. The animals argue about how to keep Groundhog out of his cave for Valentine's Day, but it just isn't that funny. I did like the artwork though. And it might be cute for Groundhog's Day or Valentine's Day.
Profile Image for Rebecca Caufman.
2,499 reviews6 followers
May 12, 2019
The animals are sad when they discover that groundhog won't be able to come to their Valentine's Day party if he sees his shadow. They bicker a lot on how to solve that problem. Filled with references about holidays February through April with a nice opportunity for inferencing at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews

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