Groundhog Day - Picture Book

Groundhog Day
Written by Betsy Lewin
(Scholastic Inc., 2000)

Happy Groundhog Day!

Every February 2nd, Groundhog Day rolls around. The nation, or at least millions of school children and the people of Pennsylvania watch and anxiously await the results of Punxsutawney Phil and his weather prediction for the coming spring.

Groundhog Day is an early reader and simple retell of what happens on Groundhog Day. The funny ending gives boys and girls another idea to consider about why Phil sees his shadow.

KID KANDY:

~ Visit www.groundhog.org to check out lots of fun things happening on Groundhog Day.

~ Make a groundhog pop-up puppet.

1. Cut a paper towel tube in thirds (horizontally).
2. Look at pictures in Groundhog Day to see what a groundhog looks like.
3. Let your child draw a small groundhog on cardstock. Or loosely trace your (adult) thumb. Add ears, eyes, nose, whiskers, and mouth.
4. Color the groundhog and cut him out. Colored pencils work great on this small drawing.
5. Tape the groundhog to a wide craft stick or an unsharpened pencil.
6. Pretend the paper tube is a groundhog den. Stick the groundhog in through the bottom so he doesn't show. Pop him up the top to peek out.
7. Hold the puppet in the shade. No shadow? Hold the puppet in the sun. Shadow?
8. Will spring be here soon or is there another six weeks of winter?

~ Talk about legends and how people have fun sharing legends.

~ Younger children will enjoy being the groundhog. Give them a box and a blanket. Let them cover their heads, pop out, and pretend to see (or not see) their shadows.


Angie Quantrell enjoys reading legends and finding out how they began. She has fun creating activities for boys and girls that encourage them to read, get out in nature, and have fun learning.

Even Mabel loves the groundhog puppet!