Groundhog Weather School [Hardcover]

Joan Holub (Author), Kristin Sorra (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The must-have book for Groundhog Day?and the rest of the year!

With pop-art illustrations, a tongue-in-cheek tone, and a riot of detail, kids learn all the important aspects of Groundhog Day. And where better to learn it than Groundhog Weather School!

Professor Groundhog opens a school so groundhogs can learn to accurately forecast the weather each February. Following along with the amusing cast of students, kids are drawn in by the thoroughly engaging tale while they learn fun facts about different animals (groundhogs in particular), seasons, weather, and predicting the weather. With funny asides and a comic-style approach to the illustrations, this informational story presents a fresh look at Groundhog Day through the eyes of the animals who live it each year.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When the annual Groundhog Day forecast proves inaccurate in Rabbit’s locale, he encourages Professor Groundhog to open a weather school with students from around the continent. Soon they gather to begin their lessons in GeHOGgraphy, Famous Furry HOGnosicators, nature’s weather predictors, burrow construction, seasons, and shadows. Finally, they graduate and head back home to hibernate until the big day. Although a good bit of information about groundhogs is tucked into the text, captions, and speech balloons, the approach is so varied and so often witty that children will absorb the facts effortlessly. One clever double-page spread shows six animals checking off whether they have what it takes to be a weather forecaster (i.e., a groundhog), while another shows four students in panels, month by month, from October to February 2. The amusing illustrations, colorful paintings digitally collaged with found objects and papers, set the tone for this inviting introduction to groundhogs and the holiday named for them. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan

Review

"[G]ood fun that will subtly teach in between laughs." --Kirkus

"Each turn of the page provides another surprise." --School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (December 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399246592
• ISBN-13: 978-0399246593
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,200 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author of 130+ books including 12 in the GODDESS GIRLS series: Athena the Brain, Persephone the Phony, Aphrodite the Beauty, Artemis the Brave, Athena the Wise, Aphrodite the Diva, Artemis the Loyal, Medusa the Mean, The Girl Games (Super Special) for ages 8-12 co-written with Suzanne Williams. OTHER POPULAR TITLES: Groundhog Weather School; Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars; The Gingerbread Kid Goes to School; Wagons Ho! (co-written with G. Hallowell); Who Was Babe Ruth?; Zero the Hero (picture book illus by Tom Lichtenheld, Henry Holt/Macmillan). COMING IN 2012: Ballet Stars (Random House).

I'm at http://www.joanholub.com and http://joanholub.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a unique and wonderful way for young children to learn about the fascinating world of weather forecasting!, December 24, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Groundhog Weather School (Hardcover)

The little white rabbit was all curled up in his bed. He had his night cap on, his yellow striped jammies and even had his slippers on. It was February 2nd and he turned on his television to watch the "Groundhog Day Forecast." The reporter wished everyone a happy holiday and said, "I do not see my shadow. That means spring is here." YES! Bunny hopped out of bed, threw on his Hawaiian shirt, shorts and flip flops and was ready for some nice weather. Just for good measure he put his sunnies one so the glare wouldn't bother his eyes. When he stuck his head out of his burrow . . . WHOA! Snowflakes were whirling around. So much for spring and that hog's forecast.

Rabbit, pig and monkey wrote letters of disappointment to the groundhog weather forecaster at HOG TV. Rabbit wanted to know if he "Could get more groundhogs to help" in the following year. Groundhog agreed. Something had to be done and done fast. He sent out invitations to Groundhog Weather School. If the applicant was a mammal, furry, lived in burrow, was a rodent, a herbivore and hibernated they were in! Everyone was checking off the list. "Check no no no no no." Mule wasn't going. "Check check check check rats! rats!" No rats in that school, but wait, there was one fellow who checked all the boxes. It was a little groundhog and he was headed to school to learn about the weather!

This is a unique and wonderful way for young children to learn about the fascinating world of weather forecasting. My favorite little "scene" was when the little groundhogs were seated at their desks waiting to learn when they discover Skunk was in their midst. He claimed he was a "foreign exchange student." In this book youngsters can painlessly learn a bit about the groundhog family, famous "Hognosticators" like Punxsutawney Phil, animal weather predictors, famous weather men, how groundhogs build a burrow, and many more interesting factual materials. The art work, needless to say, is very appealing and meshes perfectly with the text. If you are anxious for spring to arrive and have a little time on your hands, now is the time to really learn what Groundhog Day is all about!

This book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Blend of Nature, Science & Story Telling, November 29, 2010

By 

Mundie Moms/Mundie Kids "Katieb" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Groundhog Weather School (Hardcover)

This was a fantastic read. Not only did it teach my kids about the history of Groundhog Day in a fun and enchanting manner, but I learned a few new things as well. Joan did a fantastic job at incorporating science/weather and little bit of history in a fun, educational manner, as Groundhog teaches a few other mammals how to help him be a weather reporter on Groundhog Day. He does this by teaching them about Groundhog Day, learning about weather, the seasons, hibernation and talking about a few other famous Groundhogs.

I really liked how unique this book is, as how often do we get to learn about one of less commercialized holidays. The illustrations are fun, the story is engaging and well written. I highly recommend this book for preschool, Kindergartner and 1st grade aged kids. My kids and I give this book 5 stars!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun blend of story and weather science, February 21, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Groundhog Weather School (Hardcover)

Joan Holub's GROUNDHOG WEATHER SCHOOL receives Kristin Sorra's drawings and provides the appealing story of a groundhog professor who wants to accurately predict weather. He opens the Groundhog Weather School to help young groundhogs be more accurate - and in the process teaches about weather prediction in this fun blend of story and weather science.