Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather (Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books)

Geoffrey Groundhog is famous for predicting how long winter will last, and each February 2, everyone waits to hear what he has to say when he emerges to look for his shadow. But as his fame grows, so does the commotion surrounding his burrow. Finally, one February things get so bad that when Geoffrey makes his appearance he can't even see the ground, much less his shadow, because of all the lights, reporters, and cameras. How's anyone to know when spring will arrive? Predicting the weather isn't easy, not even for a groundhog. Readers will laugh aloud at Geoffrey's clever solution to his predicament.

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?

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. (Sept.)

When Geoffrey Groundhog pops out of his hole to predict the weather, he is blinded by television cameras and lights and is unable to see if he has a shadow. No one in town knows how to proceed, so Geoffrey needs help fast. One morning, after a long winter's nap, Geoffrey Groundhog popped out of his burrow to look for his shadow.