Phil’s Big Day: A Groundhog’s Story

The night before groundhog Phil is due to predict whether winter is staying or going, he has major performance anxiety. While everyone’s in bed, he works to soothe his nerves by doing what he does best—whipping up pancakes—until sister Marla enters the kitchen excited about the event. Phil quickly spirals in response to her question about what could go wrong (“WHAT IF I FORGET WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO AND MESS IT ALL UP?”), and Marla offers a mnemonic rhyme to help him carry out the family tradition. When Phil nevertheless remains jittery on February 2, he reaches for a support in the form of Marla’s ceremony savvy. Together, their shadows predict six additional weeks of winter, and a much-relieved Phil returns to his skill set: cooking pancakes. Digitally collaged images by Woodruff (Once Upon a Winter Day) contrast the snugness, both emotional and physical, of the groundhog family’s lives with more elaborate scenes of Phil’s frantic state of mind, pulling readers along to a revelation that asking for help can make a big moment—and an asker—all the better. A recipe and more about the holiday conclude. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)