Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Secret of the First One Up
Illustrator: Renee Graef
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Northword Press, 2003 ISBN: 978-1559718677
Lila is a little groundhog who doesn’t want to go to bed. This isn’t just any old bedtime we are talking about. This is that long sleep that we call hibernation when many animals stay warm and safe during the cold days, sleeping away the lean winter months. Her entire family is drowsy and ready for this time but not Lila. Then she has a talk with her uncle Wilbur, a groundhog who has always been the one to wake up first after the winter sleep. Being the wise groundhog that he is Uncle Wilbur tells Lila of the time when he too didn’t want to do to bed. He also tells her about the "secret of the first one up." Of course Lila wants to know more but her uncle won’t say another word about it. The only way Lila is going to discover what the secret is, is to be the first one up herself. It is a pleasure to share in Lily’s wonder as she learns what Uncle Wilbur has been doing for so many years.
With an evident joy in nature, tradition, and folklore the author has created a delightful tale. Paired with Renee Graef’s artwork this is a book to read again and again, especially at the times of the year when Lily would be going to bed and when she would be waking up to discover the great secret entrusted to all groundhogs. At the back of the book there is a very interesting author’s note about the American tradition of Groundhog Day and how it came into being.
