From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2—Gregory and Greta squabble over everything. Their constant bickering is apparently regarded as endearing, as the adults smile indulgently while the twin groundhogs pull at ears and tails, fighting over the last piece of pie. "'Double trouble,' said Grannie Groundhog with a smile." Grampie Groundhog, who appears to be having a glass of red wine, then announces that he is retiring and will be passing his spring-forecasting job down to one of the twins, who immediately begin to fight over it. Both siblings are only interested in the fame the job will bring ("I'll be in all the newspapers!" "I'll be on TV!"). Apparently qualifications aren't relevant, as Grampie decides between the children by drawing straws. Gregory wins and gloats, Greta loses and sulks, and the fight that ensues is once again greeted with indulgent smiles from the adults. Gregory sleepwalks during the winter, and, on February 2, he finds that he has misplaced his glasses and will not be able to see his shadow. Greta comes to his rescue. The two realize that they make a good team, then return to the ear tweaking and tail pulling. Their family may love them—but most children will find them unpleasant. Cauley's watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations depict a cozy groundhog world, but its denizens are neither interesting nor memorable. For a good Groundhog Day tale, try Pamela Curtis Swallow's
Groundhog Gets a Say (Putnam, 2005) and for the supreme teamwork tale, nothing beats Peggy Rathman's
Officer Buckle and Gloria (Putnam, 1995).—
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
