Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Punxsutawney Phyliss
Illustrator: Jeffrey Ebbeler
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Holiday House, 2005 ISBN: 978-0823418725
Phyliss the groundhog is a puzzle to her family, for she is very unlike them in one important way - she loves to be outdoors no matter what the weather. In pouring rain, freezing snow, and baking heat Phyliss is out and about. So it is not surprising that she is the first one to go outside on February second. As she sniffs the air she begins to notice that something very odd is going on. Yes indeed, there can be no doubt about it - spring is coming early this year.
Of course, none of the other groundhogs believe her. They scoff at her observations and laugh at her when she says that one day she would like to take on the role of being THE Groundhog Day groundhog. They all tell her that that is a role she will never have - after all she is called Phyliss and not Phil.
In this amusing picture book children will come to see that there are times when rules are meant to be broken. So long as you are the best for the job, who you are does not matter. If a tradition needs to be bent a little, well change is the spice of life, so they say. Girls will be especially delighted to see one of their kind getting the upper hand in this holiday picture book.
In the back of the book that author includes a section about "What is Groundhog Day" and "Who is Punxsutawney Phil."
