Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! [Paperback]

Abby Levine (Author), Nancy Cote (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up

It's almost Groundhog Day, and the town of Piccadilly is all a-buzz because Gretchen Groundhog will not Go Out. Her Great-Uncle Gus is too old to look for his shadow anymore--now it's Gretchen's turn. But she's too shy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Young Gretchen must carry on the family tradition of stepping out on the morning of February 2 to search for her shadow, but she is too shy to "Go Out" and face the crowd of people. With letters, e-mail, phone calls and visits, the townsfolk urge her to reconsider. Levine's (Ollie Knows Everything) tale turns hokey when the town historian's daughter arrives with a box of notes penned by Gretchen's ancestors (Goody Groundhog, who sailed on the Mayflower; George Groundhog, who fought at Valley Forge; and Gloria Groundhog, movie star), all confessing their fear of "Going Out." Emboldened by their words, Gretchen rises to the task, after she, too, jots down "a few lines" to place in the history box. Cote (Flip-Flops) peppers her cheery if occasionally stiff illustrations with some droll details: a quilt with an acorn motif, a book entitled Down Under. But the author shortchanges readers: they never get to read the message that Gretchen passes on to posterity, nor do they learn, when her big moment finally arrives, whether or not she spies her shadow. Gretchen's big day ends in anticlimax. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Gretchen has been newly appointed to look for her shadow on Groundhog Day so the townspeople will know if spring is just around the corner. Her Great-Uncle Gus, who long held the position, has become too old, and his niece has inherited the honor. After much worrying, she musters up courage when she learns that throughout history groundhogs have been afraid to "Go Out" the first time. Whimsical, cartoon illustrations in pencil, watercolor, and gouache capture Gretchen's apprehension, her final triumph, and the uproar of the crowd. For fillers on Groundhog Day or dealing with fear, this title will fill the bill.
Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080753059X
• ISBN-13: 978-0807530597
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals > Fiction
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Holidays & Festivals > Non-religious
  • #35 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teacher Says this book is Tops! !, April 19, 2000

By 

Alison Covington (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! (Hardcover)

This book is absolutley wonderful! I used it in my classroom on Grondhog's day, and we had the greatest activity with it. It is an up-dated and fun way to view this holiday. Students loved it, especially when Gretchen recieved support letters on her e-mail account. The illustrations are also beautiful, and the groundhogs look very believeable. The best thing about this book is the letters Gretchen recieved from past groundhogs who also looked for their shadows. Goody Groundhog, the early colonist, talks about her fears. Gloria Groundhog, the movie star also provides insight for Gretchen. It is my opinion that there is no other book to use but this one for Groundhog's Day

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An empowerment message for the chronically shy, December 21, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! (Paperback)

This year will be Gretchen Groundhog's first time to Go Out on February 2, but she feels too shy. When the people of Piccadilly hear that she doesn't want to Go Out, they panic. How will they know whether they should plan for winter or spring? Fortunately, the night before Groundhog Day, Gretchen gets a visit from Hester, the town historian's daughter. Her records show that, through the years, EVERY groundhog has been afraid to Go Out: from Pilgrim Goody Groundhog to Gretchen's Great-Uncle Gus. Gus's advice to Gretchen all along has been that the first time is the hardest. The book ends with Gretchen stepping out her door with a smile on her face, ready to make her prediction and greet the media.

My one complaint here concerns the historical portrayal. It's useful to show Gretchen that others before her experienced the same fears. But the way it's presented is not historically accurate, and it conflicts with the information contained on the explanatory page that opens the book. That first page explains that "German pioneers in Pennsylvania" are responsible for bringing to America the northern European of watching hibernators emerge on February 2nd, and that the first celebration of its kind was held in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Well, so much for Goody Groundhog from the Mayflower, George Groundhog at Valley Forge, and General Grant Groundhog in the Civil War. They were fun images to project, but the story portion of the book doesn't jive with the historical background provided.

Still, the empowerment message is well done here and may inspire both boys and girls to have confidence in tasks they are called upon to perform. The lively and colorful illustrations are filled with lots to discover. See my Listmania list for other Groundhog Day recommendations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great holiday book, June 16, 2009

By 

Lainie (Swansea, MA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! (Paperback)

This a sweet story about trying something new for the first time. Everyone rallied around Gretchen, helping her 'go out' for her debut as the groundhog predicting spring. Cote's detailed illustrations are perfect, her character expressions are delightful! A nice spin on an old traditional tale.