If you’re looking for the best Groundhog Day books for kids, you’ve come to the right spot! In this blog post, I’ve rounded up 25 of my favorite groundhog day books for early childhood educators.
For being the shortest month of the year, February is packed to the brim with holidays. For that reason, it can be easy to overlook the “smaller” holidays like Groundhog Day.
However, in my experience, kids are absolutely obsessed with Punxsutawney Phil and his weather predictions! Even if you do nothing else to celebrate this February 2nd, I encourage you to gather a few of these groundhog day books to read throughout the day.
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Substitute Groundhog
This groundhog day read aloud is timely as it seems like the sickness never ends! In Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller, Groundhog comes down with the flu. How will he make his weather predictions when he’s on bed rest?
However, Groundhog has an idea. He’ll interview his animal friends to see if one of them is up for the job of substitute groundhog. Will everything work out or will Groundhog’s Day be cancelled this year?
P.S. If you’re looking for a weeklong literacy unit to go along with this book, check out the Pre-K Literacy Holidays & Celebrations Around the World unit. (Don’t let the Pre-K fool you; this unit could work for preschool, kindergarten, or even first grade)
Not only will this unit give you a week of interactive read aloud lesson plans for this book (and 15 other holidays), but it will also give you vocabulary, nonfiction, oral language, arts and crafts, and fine and gross motor extensions.
Groundhog’s Day Off
Groundhog’s Day Off by Robb Pearlman has a similar plot to Substitute Groundhog and would be great to compare and contrast.
In this hilarious picture book, Groundhog is a little burnt out on making weather predictions. He’s tired of the same old question – will we have an early spring or two more weeks of winter?
Groundhog needs a vacation! The town holds auditions for a substitute groundhog, but no one seems right for the job. Can they convince Groundhog to come back for February 2nd?
Groundhug Day
As I said before, February is absolutely packed with holidays. Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace can help bridge the gap between February 2nd and Valentine’s Day.
In this story, the forest animals are having a Valentine’s Day party. However, Groundhog is worried. If he sees his shadow, he’ll have to hide in his hole for 6 more weeks of winter and he’ll miss the party.
Can his friends come up with a plan that will ensure Groundhog can make the party?
Grumpy Groundhog
I have to be honest, I think I relate most to Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright. In this hilarious picture book, Groundhog does not want to leave his warm and cozy bed just to make a weather forecast.
With adorable illustrations and rhyming text, this is guaranteed to be a favorite holiday book for young readers!
How To Catch a Groundhog
In How to Catch a Groundhog by Alice Walstead, kids are playing outside when they accidentally wake the groundhog and make him run away. At the end of the day, can they come up with a plan to catch the groundhog?
This would be a fun introduction to a how to writing prompt on how students’ would go about catching a groundhog on the loose!
The Night Before Groundhog Day
Written as a poem, The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing is sure to get students excited about the holiday!
Will there be six more weeks of winter or will we get an early spring? This read aloud would be perfect for setting the stage for the day.
Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow
Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow by David Biedrzycki is a hilarious picture book that also adds in some social emotional learning about friendship.
In this story, Phil and his shadow are good friends, but very different. The two end up having an argument and Shadow runs off.
Shadow is off on a grand adventure, but Phil is missing him. Can Phil find his shadow and make amends?
Groundhog Gets a Say
In Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow, Groundhog is fed up. He may be the world’s most famous groundhog, but he’s tired of being only known for his weather predictions.
He’s full of fun facts about groundhogs, and he’s ready to let the world know them all! This fiction book is filled with facts and would be fun to fact check with a nonfiction book all about groundhogs.
Groundhog Gets It Wrong
Groundhog Gets It Wrong by Jessica Townes is another holiday book that sneaks in some social emotional learning; this time all about making mistakes.
In this story, Groundhog is ashamed when his weather forecast of an early spring is wrong and the spring carnival is ruined by winter weather. Can he learn from his mistakes so that the next groundhog day goes much better?
Ten Grouchy Groundhogs
Ten Grouchy Groundhogs by Kathryn Heling is a read aloud that all early childhood educators should have in their classroom library!
In this story, ten grouchy groundhogs are counting down and getting ready for groundhog’s day. This hilarious picture book combines alliteration and counting, which means you could easily use it in your math block.
Groundhog’s Dilemma
In Groundhog’s Dilemma by Kristen Remenar, Groundhog has a problem. Half of his animal friends want 6 more weeks of winter, while the other half want an early spring.
Instead of being truthful about his weather predictions, Groundhog leads his animal friends to believe that he can control the weather. However, on the next Groundhog Day, he has to come clean.
Phil’s Big Day: A Groundhog’s Story
In Phil’s Big Day by Liza Woodruff, Punxsutawney Phil is nervous about his big day. It’s family tradition to make the weather predictions each year, but Phil is nervous about keeping it all straight. Does seeing your shadow mean six more weeks of winter or an early spring?
This read aloud would be great for discussing character feelings. It would also be a fun introduction to the harder social emotional topics of anxiety and ways to cope.
Wake Up, Groundhog
In Wake Up, Groundhog by Susan Korman, Groundhog just wants to sleep! However, his animal friends are determined to wake him up on February 2nd.
At the end of this book, the animal friends succeed, but are so exhausted they just want to go home and sleep. However, Groundhog has other plans for them…
Gretchen Groundhog, It’s Your Day!
In Gretchen Groundhog, It’s Your Day! by Abby Levine, mr. groundhog is getting too old and Gretchen must take up the task of looking for her shadow. However, Gretchen refuses as she is much too shy.
At the end of this book, the other animals convince Gretchen to try something new and make her weather forecast.
This would be the perfect read aloud to focus on character growth and feelings.
Gregory’s Shadow
In Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman, Gregory is a shy groundhog, but his shadow helps him feel braver. However, when Gregory’s shadow gets lost, the two feel scared and alone.
Can the two find each other before Groundhog Day? This story of friendship and feelings is sure to be a favorite for young kids.
Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather
In Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather by Bruce Koscielniak, Geoffrey has become the world’s most famous groundhog (at least locally) for his accurate weather predictions.
However, his fame soon gets out of control, and between the lights and cameras, Geoffrey can’t even see the ground. How will he predict six more weeks of winter or an early spring?
Punxsutawney Phyllis
In Punxsutawney Phyllis by Susanna Leonard Hill, Phyllis loves every kind of weather. She loves to run in the sun and play in the snow.
This year, Phyllis is excited for February 2nd because she just knowns an early spring is right around the corner. But can she get her uncle, Punxsutawney Phil out of bed to make his weather predictions?
Groundhog Day: Ready-to-Read Level 1
In Groundhog Day by Margaret McNamara, Mrs. Connor’s class is excited for Groundhog Day. However, instead of waiting for Punxsutawney Phil, the class is waiting on their pet hamster to see his shadow!
This fun picture book is a quick and easy read aloud, but as a ready-to-read level 1 book, it may also be a good fit for your early readers to tackle on their own.
Pux the Hog
Speaking of reading on their own, the perfect follow up book companions to any of these groundhog day read alouds would be a groundhog day decodable reader!
In Pux the Hog, students will follow Pux as he sees his shadow and then hops back into his cozy den for six more weeks of winter.
This groundhog day decodable reader is written in 9 different skill levels, which means ALL of your students can read the same story, no matter what phonics skills they are working on!
Grab your free groundhog day decodable reader here:
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Groundhog Day Decodable Reader
These Groundhog Day decodable readers include 9 different skill levels plus the option to read the story with or without pictures.
Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox
In Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby, Brownie is excited for Groundhog Day. However, she is not seeing any signs of spring… just a hungry fox who wants to make her a winter snack!
Can Brownie find a way to turn the February fox into a friend? This groundhog day children’s book is full of adorable illustrations and a heartwarming lesson.
Groundhog Weather School
Are your students full of questions about how the traditions of Groundhog Day began or whether animals can really make weather predictions?
Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub is kind of a mix between fiction and nonfiction. It’s packed with information that will have your students absolutely enthralled throughout your read aloud time!
Groundhog Day!
In Groudhog Day! by Gail Gibbons, students will learn all about this February 2nd holiday, how we celebrate, and just who Punxsutawney Phil really is.
Gail Gibbons is truly the master at writing nonfiction books, and this nonfiction book is no exception. Students will love learning all about the holiday’s history, our country’s traditions when it comes to groundhog day, and just what makes this such a unique holiday.
Groundhogs! A My Incredible World Picture Book for Children
While Gail Gibbons’ book is illustrated, Groundhogs! by Hope Aicher is full of colorful photographs that your students will love. This informational text will provide your students with facts all about groundhogs and how they live.
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day by Lisa M. Herrington is the perfect nonfiction book for early childhood educators who worry that other nonfiction books may be too wordy for their students.
This simple informational text is still packed full of fun facts and bright photos to learn all about this unique holiday and how we celebrate.
Celebrating Groundhog Day: History, Traditions, and Activities
Celebrating Groundhog Day by Karen Bush Gibson is a top choice in Groundhog Day nonfiction books for kids. Students will love learning all about how and why people celebrate on February 2nd each year.
Not only will students learn about how we celebrate Groundhog Day now, but they will also learn about world traditions and how people throughout history have celebrated the coming of spring.
Groundhog Day Nonfiction Books honorable mentions :
- Groundhog’s Burrow by Dee Phillips
- The Amazing Groundhogs of Woodchuck Wonderland by Susan Sam
- Groundhog Day: Let’s Celebrate by Clara Chella
- Groundhog Day by Michelle Ali Baker
All Groundhog Day Books
Want to browse all of these recommended Groundhog Day books for kids? You can find them all listed in my Amazon storefront.
Looking for more February read alouds? Find them here:
