Groundhog Day!: Shadow or No Shadow

Written by Gail Gibbons

Narrated by Qarie Marshall

Every February 2nd, people all across the country wonder about the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. Will he see his shadow on that day or won't he? Will spring come early or late?

Gail Gibbons combines clear, simple wording with her signature illustrations to present information about Groundhog Day, its origins, and the animal at the center of this delightful annual event. Using colorful diagrams and pictures, Gibbons teaches kids about the homes and habits of groundhogs while explaining the history behind the superstitions and fun customs of the yearly celebration.

©2007 Gail Gibbons (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media Audio
• Release date: Dec 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781520047188

Gail Gibbons

Gail Gibbons has written and illustrated more than 170 nonfiction books for children. She and her husband divide their time between Vermont and Maine.

Reviews for Groundhog Day!

[jtaylo41 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book because of the illustrations that supported the text. The book was very informational, however, the illustrations included labels, captions, and definitions. On one specific page in the book, the picture displays a definition of hibernation stating, "To hibernate means to rest and sleep during the winter." On another page, the illustrations include animals that readers may not be familiar with. In order to help the reader, the pictures included the captions, "hedgehog" and "badger." The book was a very easy read and the illustrations strongly enhanced the text. It would be a fun read in a classroom right before the holiday takes place. It allows children to gain insight about the holiday and the traditions behind it. The main message of this book was to display information about Groundhog Day.

[rschin1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the book "Groundhog Day" and I believe it would fit well into classrooms the week before Groundhog Day. First, Groundhog Day is spoken about and celebrated in many elementary schools. This book would allow students to gain knowledge on what happens on the specific day and what a groundhog is. "A groundhog is a furry rodent. It is a mammal that can weigh between 5 and 10 pounds." This allows students to visualize exactly what a groundhog looks and feels like. Secondly, along with description, the illustrations enhance the students understanding of what a groundhog is. Teachers are able to use this book to encourage students to make their own predictions about the upcoming Groundhog Day. The big idea of the nonfiction book "Groundhog Day" is that it gives information about groundhogs and the day dedicated to them.

[hebeaton · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book tells all about the history of Groundhog Day. It has really good pictures and would be great for a lesson on or around Groundhog Day. It would be better for older children as younger ones might find it boring.

[msblast-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gail Gibbons delivers what she does best...giving us the facts. This book is colorful and fun explaining this unusual mid-winter holiday. SPOILER ALERT: Gibbons does explain that, "The officials make it look as if Phil whispers to one of them whether or not he has seen his shadow. It's all pretend." However if you want to build the myth there are plenty of fiction stories to read. The parts I found most interesting were the detailed illustrations of the groundhog chambers and a map showing were other famous groundhogs live. The facts about groundhogs are interesting and this book provides a great way to mix scientific facts about groundhogs while learning the tradition of this prophetic holiday.

[eobend1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In my opinion, this is a great book to inform elementary children about Groundhog Day. One reason I enjoyed this book is because of the author’s writing. I liked how on the second page, the author asks the reader, “When will spring begin?” Asking the reader questions is a good way to keep them engaged. This book is very informative yet still intriguing and interesting. The last page is titled, “Digging up Groundhog Facts” and there are several pictures with captions that explain facts about the pictures. I thought the title of the page was clever, and I liked how the facts had pictures to go along with them, so readers can visualize the information. I also liked the illustrations in this book. The illustrator used bright primary colors, and a significant amount of detail. Many of the pictures are labeled as well. Animals are labeled, bear, hedgehog, badger, etc. and I like that the illustrator/author didn't only include groundhogs in the story and illustrations. I also really liked the diagram of the different chambers groundhogs dig underground to live in. The diagram is large, covering two pages in the book, and each chamber is labeled clearly. The big idea of this book is to inform readers about Groundhog Day.