Groundhog Gets It Wrong

by Jessica Townes, Nicole Miles (Illustrator)

Overview

This laugh-out-loud funny picture book about getting things wrong and then making them right is not your average Groundhog Day read

Groundhog is shocked and a bit ashamed when he discovers that he doesn’t have innate weather-predicting gifts—especially when his mis-forecast ruins the spring carnival.

First he tries fixing his mistake, but when shoveling up the snow and hosing it away turns out to cause more problems, he realizes that the only way to truly fix his mistake might just be to literally learn his meteorological lessons.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593326152
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	01/03/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,063,337
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Jess Townes is the author of several forthcoming picture books. A lifelong storyteller, Jess has worked in public education, non-profit development, birth and lactation services, as a freelance writer and an actress, but her favorite part of any job is the connections she builds with other people. She believes that there is no better path to those connections than through our stories. Jess lives outside St. Louis with her husband, two teenagers, two cats and a fifty-pound lap dog.

Nicole Miles is an Eisner-nominated cartoonist, illustrator hand-letterer, and designer whose clients include the New York Times, Buzzfeed, Bust Magazine, and Bitch Magazine. She is the illustrator of several books, including I Want My Book Back by Viviane Elbee, Alley and Rex by Joel Ross, and The Anti-Racist Kid by Tiffany Jewel. Originally from the Bahamas, Nicole currently resides in West Yorkshire with her pet snake and human boyfriend.

Editorial Reviews

11/07/2022

It’s February 2, and the furry scion of the Groundhog family is slated to make his inaugural weather proclamation: “The entire town was counting on him to determine if winter was coming to an end.” Confident that “groundhogs know weather,” he confirms his lack of a shadow and proclaims, “Celebrate spring—for it starts today!” When the winter-weary town wakes up to a fresh snowfall, the shocked rodent faces furious residents; desperately trying to cover his tracks, he even attempts to melt the snow with a hair dryer. After seeking other gigs, Groundhog retreats to his home and makes a startling discovery: an entire meteorological library left behind by his ancestors, whose predictions were grounded in scientific observation. After reading extensively and earning a degree from an online meteorology school, he offers an evidence-based prediction—and this time, no one is angry at winter’s persistence. This pro-science fable from Townes (Spellbound) and Miles (The Anti-racist Kid) feels a little padded in spots, but its cheery, animation-style digital cartooning makes an unmistakable point: there are no shortcuts to understanding one’s calling, one’s strengths, or the natural world. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, Red Fox Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Chad W. Beckerman, CAT Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Whimsical…A motivational nudge to develop talent—innate or acquired.”–Kirkus

“This pro-science fable …makes an unmistakable point: there are no shortcuts to understanding one’s calling, one’s strengths, or the natural world.”—Publishers Weekly

“Townes provides a witty take on the bizarre tradition of Groundhog Day, enhanced by a well-paced plot that humorously relies on the tension caused by Groundhog’s unearned authority...Miles’ digital illustrations highlight the action and humorous moments, and auxiliary sound effects and speech bubbles will support a spirited storytime rendition.” –BCCB

From the Publisher

2022-10-12
It’s not easy being a prognosticator—just ask Groundhog.

Despite being a proud descendent of a long line of meritorious meteorologists, Groundhog still gets his first forecast WRONG! He doesn’t see his shadow, so he tells everyone that winter is over—but when plans for warm weather activities fall through due to snow, the flip-flops–wearing townsfolk show up outside his burrow demanding answers. Groundhog attempts to get rid of the snow, but when that doesn’t work, he resigns his position and sets off searching for his true calling. Sheep herder? Nope. Making honey? No. Dam builder? Negative. Despondent, he trudges home. Wait—what are all those charts? And those books. He’d never paid attention to those before. In no time at all, Groundhog is taking online meteorology classes. This time, when Feb. 2 rolls around, Groundhog is prepared. Townes’ whimsical, behind-the-scenes look at the hairier side of weather foreshadowing encapsulates the adage “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” The use of alliteration to describe the overwhelming mounds of snow is a nice touch—“too excessive to excavate,” “too deep to defrost,” “too slick to shovel.” Depicting diverse townspeople, Miles’ frosty illustrations comically highlight the lengths that Groundhog is prepared to go to in order to ensure spring makes its calculated debut. Cameos throughout from a hairless pink cat add to the shivery fun.(This book was reviewed digitally.)

A motivational nudge to develop talent—innate or acquired. (note about Groundhog Day) (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews