Go To Sleep, Groundhog!

by Judy Cox, Paul Meisel (Illustrator)

It's autumn and time for Groundhog to sleep until Groundhog Day, but he cannot fall asleep! Maybe a little walk will make him sleepy. When he steps outside his burrow, he's in for some surprises. After all his nocturnal wanderings, will Groundhog be able to wake up for his big day? Book PaperbackPublication 9/1/2004 28Reading Age 5 and Up

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Holiday, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Author of children's books

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

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, 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..

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight!!! I was so happy to come across this charming read for Groundhog Day--though, really, it could be enjoyed throughout the autumn and winter months as it tells the story of a little groundhog who is so excited he can hardly sleep and keeps waking up well before his alarm clock (set for February 2nd) goes off. He awakens in mid-October, mid-November and mid-December, seeing glorious things he never saw before such as pumpkins and witches, turkeys and falling leaves, and snow and Santa Claus. A very fun read with an interesting note at the back about the history of Groundhog Day. Highly recommended especially given the lack of picture books on this holiday.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and really loved the illustrations. I also liked the “About Groundhog Day” informational page at the end of the book. It gives information about both Groundhog Day and groundhogs, and makes clear that groundhogs can’t really predict the weather.

Groundhog and his sidekick mouse, and all the other animal characters and other characters (a witch and Santa Claus) are just so endearing.

Groundhogs hibernate from around October to around February 2nd, but this groundhog, despite his “warm cozy” bed and lovely surroundings, cannot stay asleep. Groundhog keeps waking up and going outside and sees the sights of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, all while he should be in bed asleep.

Both the story and illustrations are full of amusing and interesting details. I particularly liked all the snacks and all the bedtime stories groundhog gets throughout the book.

I’d never thought to read Groundhog Day stories even though I know someone who was born on Groundhog Day. Then, I saw a list of Groundhog Day books in the Children’s Book Group and this is one of the books on that list. It’s a winner, in my opinion.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so cute! The illustrations are beautiful. I like how different characters such as the Witch, the Turkey, and Santa Claus serve as good parents sending the groundhog back to bed each time with a seasonally appropriate snack, beverage, and bedtime story. And I Like the way the groundhog does all of this for himself at the end of the book. Very original, yet familiar and sweet. This would be a fun read-aloud book because you could do different voices for the witch, the turkey, and Santa, when each one finds the groundhog and asks "What are YOU doing up?"

[storymamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable story about a groundhog who can’t fall asleep. Every month he tries to fall asleep but can’t so he comes out of his burrow to explore things he’d never seen before like pumpkins, turkeys and lights. Each time a friend helps bring groundhog back to his burrow, read him a story and give him a snack to help him go back to sleep. When he finally gets to sleep his alarm starts ringing and he reluctantly gets up and walks outside. You’ll have to read it to find out if he sees his shadow. We love the bright and colorful illustrations that help younger children figure out what holiday groundhog is surrounded by each month. At the end of the book Judy added some facts about groundhogs and the story behind celebrating the holiday. A great and fun read for ages 3-8!

[Becca Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute book about groundhogs day. The groundhog set his alarm for February 2nd so that he could get up to see if we saw this shadow or not. He could not fall asleep so we just kept trying to go for a walk. First when he got up it was halloween and a witch told him he was not supposed to be awake yet, so she tucked him back into bed. Then he woke up again on Thanksgiving and the turkey told him to go back to back. Then on Christmas he saw Santa on his walk, and Santa told him to go back to sleep. He finally was able to sleep until Groundhogs day, but when he got up he saw his shadow so he went back to sleep.

[Kaci Beesecker]

This book takes us through the journey of Groundhog as he tries to fall asleep for Groundhog's Day. When Groundhog is unable to sleep, he experiences autumn and winter holidays he never knew about, and after a while, he finally falls asleep before Groundhog Day.

This would be a good read for kids in middle elementary to get them to understand and learn more about Groundhog's Day. A fun activity the class could do is to decorate Groundhog's before Groundhog's Day and have them predict whether or not they think he is going to show his shadow.

[Kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sweet twist on the classic tale of Groundhog Day! When the little ground hog just can't fall asleep, he goes for a wander and encounters all the holidays and their patrons that he typically misses out on. But the real question is will he wake up in time for his own holiday? I thought this was a precious take on the holiday of GroundHog Day, which is kind of a weird holiday to try and explain to...anyone really. That being said, it's a super cute book and (again) I could see little, engaging activities for kids. Four out of five stars!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go to Sleep, Groundhog was a great book! This book is a great book for children who are trying to learn their seasons and the holidays that go along with those seasons. What made this book really cute was when the Groundhog would wake up in a certain season for example around Christmas Santa Claus took him back home and put him to bed. I highly recommend reading this book!

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just in case you ever wondered why the groundhog needs those extra 6 weeks of sleep... it's because he stayed up all fall and winter and was too tired to get up on time. LOL The groundhog and I are NOT friends.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Groundhog Day book that worked as a read aloud with preschoolers

Summary: When Groundhog is unable to sleep, he experiences autumn and winter holidays he never knew about, and then he finally falls asleep before Groundhog Day.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family loved this book! We really liked that it was informational about groundhogs and that it also talked about the Groundhog Day traditions. It was a super cute read that incorporated the other Holidays into the book as well (Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas$. What a fun little story!

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute book to read for Groundhog's Day. I like how different holidays are incorporated as well.

[Brooke Call · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book because I thought it would be a good way to explain what groundhog day was to little kids. I liked the book because not only did it explore groundhog day but it also visited most of the other big holidays also. I also liked that the author explained that since the groundhog was going back to sleep we would have 6 more weeks of winter.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using with adult esl class.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary and up book about a groun dhog who is supposed to go to be and sleep till February 2 (Groundhog Day) but keeps waking up for differnt holidays and making friends.

[BreAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tribute to Groundhog Day with vignettes of all the major winter holidays. Love the different figures helping Groundhog get back to sleep, complete with their story and treat.

[Wendi (Alex) Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was posted along a path at Lake Roland Park in Baltimore.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this book was better than the actual book IMO. It was cute that different holiday figures gave groundhog a treat and read him a story to get him back to sleep.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super-cute!

[Briar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for cute book for groundhogs day but didn't think a witch was necessary

[Karen]

didn't finish
i didn't like the illustrations

[msfox_librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story with cute illustrations!

[Alana Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a groundhog who cant stay asleep until spring. He keeps waking up and he sees all of the holidays and the people in them. when he finally gets to sleep it is spring and he is grumpy when he wakes up cause he didn't get to sleep.

This book is a good one for learning about groundhog day and seeing how long they sleep for and learning about when they see their shadow and when they do not see their shadow.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun and entertaining book. It followRs a Groundhog as he is getting ready to go into hibernation until February. Problem is, he has trouble staying asleep for so many months. He ends up waking up in October, November and December. To help cure his insomnia, he goes for a walk hoping it will make him sleepy. He is quickly surprised and curious about all of the new things that he has never seen before. October brings scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treaters. November he admires how the leaves have changed colors and the growth of corn and pumpkins. In December, he spies twinkling lights, wreaths and hears sleigh bells. The fun thing is at the end of each walk a popular character for that month brings the groundhog back to his burrow, gives him a monthly treat and reads him a story to put him back to sleep. My daughter loves pointing out each holiday and learning about months as well as talking about shadows and what happens on Groundhog Day. The illustrations are large and give your little listeners plenty to look at as you read this delightful story. We would definitely recommend this one!

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may not be just fantastic, but it's pretty cute and is just about the best Groundhog Day book I know of for story time.

Groundhog goes to bed just after Columbus Day after having set his alarm clock to wake him on February 2. He just can't sleep, though, so he gets up and takes a walk. Everywhere he looks he sees glowing orange pumpkins, scarecrows, and children in fun costumes. Halloween Witch sees him and takes him back to his home, where she reads him a Halloween story and tells him to go back to sleep.

He wakes in November and learns about Thanksgiving from the turkey who takes him back home. When he wakes in December, Santa teaches him about Christmas. On February 2, Groundhog's alarm jolts him awake. He steps outside, sees his shadow, and decides he needs about 6 more weeks of sleep.

If you need a Groundhog Day story for your class, this is my recommendation. Kind of fun and not too wordy.

[Erin Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very cute and original. I really liked the illustrations and the wording in the book. It was different from a Groundhog day book where the groundhog may oversleep. The groundhog wen to bed on Columbus Day and set his alarm clock for Feb. 2. but he couldn't seem to stay asleep for very long. Each time the Groundhog woke up, he thought he'd go for a walk and that would make him sleepy again. And each time he goes out for his walk he see's all of the holidays that he's missed while asleep. Then at the end, after the story is over a note on the last page explains the Groundhog day ritual. I thought it was a very clever and cute book! Great for Bedtime ;)

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up originally while I was looking for some books for Groundhog Day. I decided that it was the perfect addition to this storytime. Rather than focusing on Groundhog Day, it is about a groundhog who goes to bed just after Columbus Day, setting his alarm for February 2, but suffers insomnia. When he looks at his clock the first time he wakes it is "only half past October." Deciding to take a walk to help make him sleepy he strolls out into the middle of Hallween and sees sights that he has never seen before. This happens again in November and December. This is a wonderfully imaginative book, and the kids loved it. So did the adults .

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got saddled with a Groundhog's Day story time and read dozens of groundhog's day books that really sucked. I vowed to never do a Groundhog's Day storytime again. Then, after I did the storytime, this book came in (obviously someone else beat me to it). If I ever have to do a Groundhog's day read aloud again, I'll probably use this one. It's a good length, it includes seasons. It has holidays that children love, and it introduces the concept of groundhog's day (without being long and boring.)

[Haim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was nice. The book is a good teaching tool to teach about holidays. What is interesting how much the groundhog missed by being asleep. He was discovering new and exciting things, which for many of us is mundane. In this sense, the book is great way to introduce to children the concept of discovery and even cultural differences. What I found cute was, in the story why the groundhog returned to his den. The illustrations are just right.