Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather

by Bruce Koscielniak

Overview

Geoffrey Groundhog has become a local celebrity for successfully predicting how long winter will last. Everyone awaits his prediction each February 2, when he emerges from his burrow to look for his shadow. But Geoffrey’s fame has grown out of control—and so has the commotion surrounding his burrow! With television lights and cameras crowding him, he can’t even see the ground, much less his shadow. How will he make his spring prediction? How will anyone know if they should wax their surfboards or their skis?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780395883983
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/02/1998
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	534,548
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Bruce Koscielniak is the author and illustrator of several books for children; he is also a musician who has played the violin and jazz guitar for many years. He lives in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

"Read it for Groundhog Day, or save it for Mother's Day, when its wit could serve as an antidote for an overdose of sentimentality." Booklist, ALA —

From the Publisher

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. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 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

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