Raise your hand if you’ve felt like the past year has pretty much felt like one big Groundhog Day. Well, officially there is only one Groundhog Day and that is February 2nd. Enjoy leading up to the day with these Groundhog Day books for preschoolers and older students.
Groundhog Books for Preschool and Up
I’ve divided these books into three categories.
- Books About Groundhogs
- Books About Groundhog Day
- Books About Shadows
I’ve marked which titles are especially good for the preschool crowd.
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Books About Groundhogs
There is a groundhog in the garden in A Garden for Groundhog by Lorna Balian. And, the O’Leary’s need to come up with a plan for keeping it from eating all the goodies. (preschool pick)
A Garden for Groundhog is one of our selections for Family Dinner Book Club.
groundhog themed activities HERE
How Groundhog’s Garden Grew by Lynn Cherry is a bit longer book and a little hard to find. But, it is a gorgeous book with enjoyable text.
Groundhog is learning to plant and tend the garden with the help of some fellow animals. This book works really well for a unit on plants, veggies, and gardening.
Rhythm, rhyme, and silliness are what you get in Ten Grouchy Groundhogs by Kathryn Heling. This is a good one for a circle time read-aloud for young preschoolers because they can join in on repetitive parts and predict the number coming next. (preschool pick)
Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace would be super cute to share during the month of February. Moose is planning a Valentine’s Day party and he wants to make sure Groundhog attends. But, if Groundhog sees his shadow he won’t be able to attend the party. (preschool pick)
Settle into your seat and enjoy the lesson in Groundhog Weather School: Fun Facts About Weather and Groundhogs by Joan Holub.
A Greyhound, A Groundhog by Emily Jenkins is a silly little rhyming book that begs for you to play ring around the rosie after reading. (preschool pick)
Learn all about groundhogs and see up-close photographs of them too in Groundhog’s Burrow by Dee Phillips.
Books About Groundhog Day
Phil in Phil’s Big Day by Liza Woodruff is a delightful read-aloud. Phil is feeling pretty nervous about his big declaration he’s about to make. He can’t sleep. He’s struggling to make pancakes. He is struggling to remember the catchy little rhyme his sister shared to help him. What will the day hold? (preschool pick)
Gail Gibbon’s is a go-to for informational text on just about any science-related topic. Her book, Groundhog Day explains how each year people try to explain if it will stay cold or warm-up.
Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow allows the groundhog to voice his mind. For example, why are people only interested in him one day out of the year? He has more weather forecasting to predict. Does anyone really know anything about how special a groundhog is? Well, you will after reading this fun and informative book.
It’s Groundhog Day and Brownie steps outside to see her shadow. Disappointed she travels on when a fox pounces right on her. Brownie convinces the fox that he’ll have to wait for a meal. Together they continue on looking for signs of spring all the while teaching the fox not to eat her for a snack. Read Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby.
The town begs and pleads for the groundhog to come out on Groundhog Day in Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright. This would be a fun one to have the kids make signs and re-enact the story to plead their case for the groundhog to come out. (preschool pick)
Groundhog is ill and needs a substitute for Groundhog Day. Will any of his friends be able to do the job? Find out in Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller.
In Mr. Groundhog Wants the Day Off by Pat Stemper Vojta, Mr. Groundhog is well enough to do the job, but he’s tired of being blamed for six weeks of winter. So, he travels around his home asking others to do the job for him this year. Will he find anyone to sub for him? (preschool pick)
Gretchen Groundhog is feeling pretty nervous about being in the spotlight on February 2nd. There’s all the people, the tv cameras, the reporters… Can she overcome her fear and do her job? Find out in Gretchen Groundhog, It’s Your Day! by Abby Levine.
Gregory is also shy in Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman. In Gregory’s fright, he leaves his shadow outside. Can Gregory and his shadow be reunited? Will they be together on the big day?
Books About Shadows
What Makes a Shadow? by Clyde Robert Bulla is part of the Let’s Read and Find Out Science series. Children will learn what a shadow is, where it comes from, and who and what have shadows in this informational book. (preschool pick)
Shadows and Reflections by Tana Hoban takes us on a photographic walk through a world of shadows and reflections. This one will prompt you to take a walk outside looking for shadows. (preschool pick)
Get the Printable Groundhog Book List
Grab a printable list of the books above as well as discussion questions.
Celebrate Groundhog Day with these read-alouds.
MORE BOOK LISTS TO ENJOY
Valentine’s Day Books for Kids
This post first appeared on Growing Book by Book on January 18, 2021 and has since been updated.