Gregory's Shadow (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Don Freeman (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Picture Puffins

Gregory is a shy groundhog, and having his friend Shadow close by makes him feel brave. But one day Gregory and Shadow go outside to look for food, and they get separated. Scared and lonely, they search and search for one another. To make matters worse, tomorrow is Groundhog Day, and everyone will be waiting to see if Gregory and his shadow leave their home together. Will the two friends find each other in time for Groundhog Day?

"Freeman's adorable, loosely sketched illustrations are colored in a palette of blues for the snowscapes and earth tones for the underground scenes. The simple story line is just right for preschoolers." (Booklist)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Posthumously published, this ingenuous tale by the creator of Corduroy introduces another endearing, though not likely as enduring, animal character. Gregory Groundhog always feels braver when his best pal, his shadow, accompanies him. On the day before Groundhog Day, Gregory suggests that he and Shadow go find something to eat. "Sure... I'm right behind you," quips his amorphous companion, whom Gregory inadvertently leaves outdoors when he returns to his burrow. After the two are reunited, the groundhog faces another dilemma: He doesn't want to be separated from his friend again, yet he knows that his appearance with his shadow on the following morning will make the local farmers unhappy, since this augurs six more weeks of winter. Not surprisingly, Gregory devises a simple solution to this quandary that pleases all involved. Less engaging than Freeman's light yet satisfying narrative are his wispy, sketchy picturesAa number of which seem unfinished. Still, the whimsical notion of a groundhog's all-important shadow taking on a life of its own will pique readers' imaginations, and the antics of these two earnest buddies will bring smiles to young faces. Ages 2-6. (Dec.) FYI: A portion of the author royalties from this title will go to the Don and Lydia Freeman Research Fund to support psychological research concerning children afflicted with cancer.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Published posthumously by Freeman's estate, this story tells of a shy, unassuming little groundhog whose bravery is bolstered by his shadow. When the two are separated, both suffer. Ultimately, after a long search, they are reunited, and devise a plan so that they can be together, yet not disappoint the farmers who will interpret the appearance of the shadow to mean six more weeks of winter. The softly colored illustrations are somewhat sketchy but are still charming, and the tale is sweet. This book will be used as a much-needed read-aloud for Groundhog's Day, but many children will relate to it on another level-as a search for belonging in this bewildering world-and will gain courage from the tale.-Mollie Bynum, formerly at Chester Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, AK

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (December 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142301965
• ISBN-13: 978-0142301968
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( F ) > Freeman, Don
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Holidays & Festivals > General
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals > Fiction

More About the Author

Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California danceband. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings.
Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident; he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater.

He was introduced to the world of Childrens' Literature, when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!"

Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear, named Corduroy.

Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popular books for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and the Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting take on Groundhog Day, December 21, 2005

By 

Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gregory's Shadow (Hardcover)

Skittish little Gregory Groundhog is used to having his Shadow follow him all the time, everywhere he goes. But on February 1st when Gregory ran back inside his house, he and his Shadow got separated. Each one searched for the other, and eventually they get together again, just in time for Groundhog Day. Gregory coaxed Shadow to hide closely behind him, unseen, so that winter would be soon over.

This story is an interesting approach to Groundhog Day. The chalk illustrations lend texture to the pages, and even shadows -- an important part of the story -- are well portrayed. See my Listmania list for other recommendations on this topic.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for Older Children (4-5 years), January 27, 2003

By 

Dave in Hagerstown "oriolesfan61" (Hagerstown, MD, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gregory's Shadow (Hardcover)

Gregory is a groundhog who loses his shadow. He and his shadow finally find each other and make a plan for Groundhog Day.

This was a little too wordy for my class. I also think this is too abstract for the Three Year Olds I teach. They need to see the shadow stay to learn reality; the fantasy of the shadow and groundhog being separated just didn't make sense to them. But they liked the illustrations and played "catch the shadow"; a game they invented after the story time.

Would be very good for Older Fours and Kindergarten age; especially ones in a good early learning program.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I KNOW What You are thinking, February 2, 2009

By 

a gentle sound (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gregory's Shadow (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

I just know what you are thinking....just where can you put ANOTHER great book about Groundhog's Day ( why do people say Groundhog Day no s?) with your fully stocked rodent collection now blooming over into the varmits books corner. A conundrum to be sure. And it is true the first 15 groundhog books are the very dearest, but eek out a bit of space for Gregory. He's a late bloomer.

He's also a rather cute little chalk fellow, drawn beautifully by the guy who brought us that bear we all loved Corduroy. Darn that Corduroy because of him 15 years of my early life involved checking the dryer before my mom ran it for fear of a stuffed animal suffocation. ( I had to give up some of my friends when I got married to shelves over this same issue ;-(...

Oh yeah the review, always the review.

Gregory takes his shadow, befriends him, talks to him, then when frightened leaves him out in the cold. Oh no. And the rest is history. A very good book for separation of truth and fiction. (Or separation anxiety.) We ask the kids.... "Can groundhogs talk?" "Can shadows talk?" "Can shadows go around minus what casts them?"

Keep in mind you might get a variety of answers, kookie ones, not just because they are six. I once asked in a Book club reading on a Zacharia Stitchen book if anyone there really thought aliens actually came to Earth and surgically altered apes and then had to deal with over 25 people who went on to tell me about their own abductions. Never assume I say! But generally groundhogs in my woods are mutes, and our shadows stay attached. Come on now.

So I find the book a soft hearted sweet story. What I did today after reading to my 1st grade class was march us all out with partners and colored chalks to a playground to trace our shadows, draw in our clothes on the outlines, and in twenty minutes see how far the shadow had "moved" as we started to "realize" that something is "going on." Children provided various "ideas" until one suggested the Earth was actually rotating or moving. More science observations to be made.WWe might be on to something.

A quaint story for a groundhog day. Oh and just to give my credentials my parents married on this day and lasted in that marriage 28 years.
Not a record but at least they got out with their shadows.