Secret Of The First One Up [Hardcover]

Iris Hiskey Arno (Author), Renee Graef (Author)

Book Description

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

Kindergarten-Grade 2-When Lila, a young groundhog, objects to going to sleep for the winter, Uncle Wilbur tells her to rest so that she can try to be the first one to wake up in the spring and discover a big secret. She is indeed the first groundhog to awaken and quickly runs up the tunnel and outdoors, where she is greeted by all of the animals that do not hibernate and learns from them how important her shadow is. Lovely, warm illustrations, created with gouache, colored pencils, and acrylics, depict the groundhog household as well as a variety of winter animals. A short note on Groundhog Day is appended. This book can be used for holiday celebrations or as an addition to a storytime or unit on hibernation. ---SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-When Lila, a young groundhog, objects to going to sleep for the winter, Uncle Wilbur tells her to rest so that she can try to be the first one to wake up in the spring and discover a big secret. She is indeed the first groundhog to awaken and quickly runs up the tunnel and outdoors, where she is greeted by all of the animals that do not hibernate and learns from them how important her shadow is. Lovely, warm illustrations, created with gouache, colored pencils, and acrylics, depict the groundhog household as well as a variety of winter animals. A short note on Groundhog Day is appended. This book can be used for holiday celebrations or as an addition to a storytime or unit on hibernation.
Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Iris Hiskey Arno began her career as a classical singer. She toured the US, Canada, and Europe singing opera, medieval, and contemporary music. When she became a mom, she took off her traveling shoes and started writing children's books. She also combined her interest in music with her interest in children's literature and wrote several musicals for children to perform. Iris lives with her family just outside New York City in a house with a rainbow-colored porch.

Renée Graef received her Bachelor's Degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has illustrated more than 40 children's books, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder series for Harper Collins, and the "Kirsten" books and paper dolls from the American Girl Collection for Pleasant Company. Renée is married with two children and lives in Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cooper Square Publishing Llc (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559718676
• ISBN-13: 978-1559718677
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations, wonderful story, December 31, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Secret Of The First One Up (Hardcover)

Before the groundhogs go to sleep for the winter, Lila's Uncle Wilbur hints that the first one to wake up and go outside is privy to a secret. That's enough incentive for Lila: she wants to know the secret! When February comes, Lila wakes up first and tries to rouse her uncle, who is usually the first one to go out. When he doesn't want to get up, Lila goes out instead. To her amazement she is greeted by all the animals in the forest, waiting to hear her prediction. Lila doesn't know anything about the shadow-seeing business, so they explain it to her. She doesn't see her shadow, and the animals rejoice that Spring is just around the corner. "That seems backwards to me!" Lila says. She is then joined by Uncle Wilbur, who agrees that the tradition seems backwards. The two also agree to keep the secret of being the first one up.

This marvelous story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations worthy of Beatrix Potter or Garth Williams. All the animals are furry and fuzzy and almost life-like. And major kudos to Iris Hiskey Arno, who is the only children's storyteller courageous enough to say that the traditional prediction-by-shadow doesn't make sense. An author's note on the final page explains the history of the Groundhog Day ritual.