Judy Cox

When Columbus Day rolls around, Groundhog prepares for his long winter sleep by brushing his teeth, putting on his jammies, and setting his alarm clock for February 2nd. But although his bed is cozy and warm, he just can't seem to stay asleep! Waking in mid-October, mid-November, and mid-December, our sciurine** hero encounters a series of holiday celebrants - a Halloween witch, a Thanksgiving turkey, and Christmas Santa - each of whom shepherds him back to bed. With all these disruptions, show more will Groundhog be able to honor his February commitment...?

Go to Sleep, Groundhog is probably the first Groundhog-Day-themed title that I have read, and although I don't know that I've ever really felt the want of such stories in my life, I'm happy to have encountered it. With a sweet little tale that young readers - themselves often reluctant to go to (and stay in) bed - will enjoy, as well as colorful acrylic and gouache illustrations that are humorous and fun, this is a book that I would recommend to anyone looking for children's stories that address this particular tradition. There's even an informative afterword, explaining the history behind the holiday!

**You might imagine that groundhogs, being rodents, would be described as "murine," but (like squirrels and prairie dogs), they actually belong to the Sciuridae family! Yes, I do love the animal adjectives.. show less

Groundhog has difficulty getting to sleep as he usual does on Columbus Day so he keeps deciding to go outside and take a walk to tired himself out. Outside, he keeps coming across holidays he's never witnessed before, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Will he ever get to sleep in time to wake up for his own special day?

There are a lot of things to like about this book, but one of the things I especially enjoy is how I noticed something new in the illustrations each time I show more re-read. The illustrations are lovely, a pleasant blend of realism and child-like simplicity. They also perfectly accompany the narrative, portraying what occurs in the story. Speaking of which, the story is a lot of fun in that the reader gets to re-visit other big holidays that precede Groundhog's Day. This is especially interesting in a classroom (like mine with young toddlers) because you can discuss and reinforce what children have learned already about these other holidays. The language used is fairly simple and straightforward with some repetition in terms of the pattern of the events (and thus the accompanying language). This book is definitely a great addition to any discussion about Groundhog's Day. show less

This is a great Groundhog Day story -- truly, it is a really enjoyable & beautifully illustrated tale for little ones at anytime! The young groundhog in the story wakes up early several times. Every time he awakens he finds adventures as he meets a different holiday character, all who young folks will recognize. There's a Halloween witch, a Thanksgiving turkey, and Santa ... each of them take a turn at bringing the little grounhog back home. Then each reads him a holiday bedtime story and show more offers him a seasonal snack such as apple cider at Halloween, pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, and milk & cookies at Christmastime. The illustrations are absolutely delightful and encourage wee folks to picture the story in their minds. The last page offers a simple explanation regarding the origin & background of Groundhog Day A wonderful well-illustrated book for little kids! show less

"Here’s a clan that outdoes even the Marsalis family. From her great grandmother, who plays a cathedral’s mighty pipe organ, to little niece Sadie, who plays pots and pans in the kitchen, it seems that everyone related to this high-energy young narrator is a musician. And she’s no exception, either: in fact, she plays with them all, on tambourine, triangle, cowbell, woodblock, maracas, handbell, and more. In cut-paper collages that look silk-screened, Brown depicts this exuberant show more percussionist with cornrows and a big grin, confidently accompanying big band and string quartet, dancing on club stages, and joining marching bands, plainly welcome wherever she goes. A closing glossary explains some of the terms and musical genres mentioned here, but it’s the pride this child takes in her family, and her place in that family, that readers will remember most clearly. (Picture book. 6-9)" www.kirkusreviews.com show less