Groundhog Day and a fast forward to April Fools

Well, I've got a girl power Groundhogs Day read for you all here today. It's the story of Punxsutawney Phyllis by Susanna Leonard Hill and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. Phyllis is a young groundhog with a gift. She's also part of the famous family lineage of Punxsutawney Phil. The gift that she has is the family's weather predicting skill. Only problem is that this job has always been done by a boy family member not a girl. Phyllis does not let anyone hold her back though. She's determined to prove that she's got what it takes to be the next Punsutawney Phil Phyllis that is. It's a really well written story with lots of heart. The illustrations are bold, colorful and wonderfully detailed.

When I discovered Punxsutawney Phyllis at our library I also noticed April Fool, Phyllis also by Susanna Leonard Hill and Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler and decided to get them both even though April Fools is a ways a way. I'm so glad that I did. My two loved both these books and getting to know little, determined Phyllis. In this book once again Phyllis is putting her weather predicting skill to good use but her family thinks she's trying to pull an April Fools joke on them. It's one of the best and quite honestly only April Fools day reads I've read. The family of groundhogs have fun pulling pranks on one another throughout the day leading to their annual Spring treasure hunt. The pranks are quite clever and gave my two some fun insight into this odd little Holiday! I'm not much of a prankster so April Fools is usually a passing day but I think Phyllis and her brothers just may inspire me this year to have a little more fun!

A Basket full of Groundhogs

Groundhog Day is just around the corner on Feb 2nd, that's right Groundhog Day. I thought I'd share some fun holiday themed books here today, hopefully in time for you to pick up a couple at your library or to add to your own collection before Groundhog day is here.


First up is a fun fact filled non-fiction read by Wendie C. Old and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye called The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun. It's a longer read for kids 7 & up. The book opens with the PA celebrity Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. It covers the origins of the Holiday, other animals that predicate the weather in similar celebrations around the world, information on groundhogs and hibernation. There are even ideas for throwing your own Groundhog Day party. Whew, right? The water colored illustrations feature cartoon like groundhogs. They are fun, bright and engaging.



The Secret of the First One Up by Iris Hiskey Arno and illustrated by Renee Graef. Lila is a young groundhog who doesn't want to go to sleep especially for months. Her Uncle Wilbur, who is always the first groundhog up each year, encourages Lila to go to sleep so she might be the first one up and learn the secret that only that special groundhog knows. Lila drifts off to sleep and is the first groundhog up the following February. She now knows the secret of why it's special to be the first groundhog to wake.


Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub and illustrated by Kristin Sorra. This is a fun book that uses humor to teach. Not only will your children learn about groundhogs, the Holiday, hibernation but they will also learn about weather. The illustrations match the text perfectly and are equally engaging and humorous.

We'll soon know if spring is around the corner or not!