Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather (Paperback)

by Bruce Koscielniak (Author) "One morning, after a long winter's nap, Geoffrey Groundhog popped out of his burrow to look for his shadow..." (more)
Key Phrases: Groundhog Day

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
As if a Bill Murray movie wasn't enough, the Groundhog Day tradition gets additional play in the controlled mayhem of this picture book. Geoffrey Groundhog awakens one February 2nd and applies his mother's teachings to predict when spring will arrive. Reported in the local newspaper, his forecast proves correct, and all the animals of Mooseflats County are duly impressed. The following year, pigs, deer, and rabbits surround Geoffrey's burrow-but so many TV lights flash in Geoffrey's eyes that he can't tell whether he has seen his shadow or not. The media madness mounts-and subsides only after Geoffrey calls on his mother for expert counsel. Koscielniak (Bear and Bunny Grow Tomatoes) tones down the frenzy of activity with a subdued palette of olive greens, browns and other wintry hues. At the same time he keeps the tone light, integrating into his narrative humorous newspaper headlines ("Was There a Shadow? Weather Picture Muddled") and lacing his antic ink-and-watercolor illustrations with satisfyingly silly scenery, like a matronly pig balancing a tray of teacups at the annual Spring Tea. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2?Predicting the weather seems easy to Geoffrey Groundhog, who recalls his mother's advice regarding the sighting of his shadow on February 2. He reports his findings to Merton Moose at the newspaper, and the following year, various townsfolk eagerly await his prediction. Billboards and posters exploit his image to sell products from toothpaste to "Ground Hoggers Jogging Shoes." As Geoffrey sleeps, unaware of the turmoil, television cameras and reporters gather near the entrance of his burrow, waiting for him to appear. Imagine his surprise when he dashes out, only to be bombarded with flashing lights and questions! With all the turmoil, he can't see anything, leaving the town desperately seeking weather information. Geoffrey's solution?to call his mother for her sighting?will be humorous and reassuring to young audiences. Unfortunately, the real humor?the satirical pervasiveness of the media?might be lost on them. Though reasons for the sequence of events often remain unclear, the energetic watercolor and pen drawings vividly depict both the chaotic media influence and the snowy calm of the town in its usual state, including endearing characters and an appealing cover.?Tana Elias, Meadowridge Branch Library, Madison, WI
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (February 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395883989
• ISBN-13: 978-0395883983
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #790,263 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Ground Hog Has Six Weeks of Fame, September 10, 2006

By	M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A satire on the commercialization of holidays, our obsession with celebrity, and the media's tendency to make natural things seem unnatural, "Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather" is also a cleverly written and funny book about the secrets of Ground Hog Day. I like how author/illustrator Bruce Koscielniak bypasses a lengthy explanation of that whole things about how groundhog seeing it's shadow (or not) predicts whether we're in for more winter or a quick transition to Spring. Mrs. Goundhog, reading to Geoffrey in their cozy underground living room (with a whimsical wooden-planks-on-a-pole ladder to the side) FROM "Groundhog Lore," simply states: "If you see your shadow on Groundhog Day, go back to sleep, because winter will last six more weeks. Of there is no shadow, spring will soon be here."

Geoffrey doesn't see his shadow, and tells this to Merton Moose, who sensationalizes the brief event into front page news. I wish that Bruce Koscielniak had drawn Moose as a wizened and jaded reporter, so of the Walter Matthau of moose. Geoffrey's success, and Moose's publicity results in a media event the next February. There are television cameras, lots and lots of unrelated Groundhog's Day sales and promos (e.g., a billboard for "Big Tooth toothpaste, showing Geoffrey brushing his... big tooth; the "Uptown Cuisine Restaurant" sporting a banner, "Geoffrey ate here"). The mania even gets to Geoffrey, who shows up wearing a Hollywood-ish scarf and shades.

Unfortunately, when Geoffrey hurries to the ground for his prediction, there are so many cameras and people that, "I could hardly see the ground of me, much less my own shadow!"--and he has more than a shadow of a doubt about the upcoming season. Even this "failure" gets prominent newspaper and TV coverage. The consequences are humorously exaggerated; in fact, there's so much confusion that "all weather reports were canceled" until Geoffrey makes up his mind about what he saw. Fortunately, weather forecasting is in the family, and Geoffrey's off the hook thanks to Mom.

The conclusion's a bit flat, though perhaps appropriate for bedtime, Geoffrey, tired from all that forecasting, goes to bed. Koscielniak succeeds at both the children and adult levels, writing a book with multi-layered appeal. I like books like this, because it means that adults won't tire of reading it over (and over) to kids. The illustrations and fanciful narrative tone are very similar to James Marshall's (of the "Worst" series, and the "Wainy" series): Casually drawn lettering, heavy use of "sketchy" lines, faces full of expression, and a light watercolor touch. Highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars First time's a charm, but the second?, December 31, 2005

By	Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Geoffrey does a good job at predicting the weather the first time he has to do it. But the second year, he oversleeps and then gets distracted by the ensuing media frenzy. He eventually issues a decision based on a phone call to his mother.

Simple line drawings are accompanied by the fun-to-read front pages of newspapers from Geoffrey's town. Mr. Koscielniak may have confused groundhogs with beavers, for they are all depicted with protruding front teeth. No matter: this is an amusing Groundhog Day story for the young.