Groundhog Day (BFI Modern Classics)

Book Description

It is becoming clearer and clearer that Groundhog Day (1993), directed by Harold Ramis, is one of the masterpieces of 1990s Hollywood cinema. One of the first films to use a science-fiction premise as the basis for romantic comedy, it tells the story of a splenetic TV weatherman, Phil Connors (Bill Murray at his disreputable best), who finds himself indefinitely repeating one drab day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The film is a deeply ambivalent fable: before he finds redemption Phil must plumb the depths of suicidal despair--and even after he has survived this, there are no guarantees that he will live happily ever after.
Ryan Gilbey begins his account of Groundhog Day with the long and unlucky gestation of the script by Danny Rubin, who was interviewed for this book. Gilbey celebrates the inspired casting of Murray, Andie MacDowell, and less well-known actors such as Stephen Tobolowsky. In a subtle analysis, he unpacks the film's remarkable blend of humor and melancholy, revealing Groundhog Day to be a rare beast--a mainstream Hollywood comedy that grows richer with each repeat viewing.

Customer Reviews:

A book to read over and over and over again.......2006-01-03

Ryan Gilbey has written a splendid book that can only increase one's enjoyment of one of the most enjoyable movies of the Nineties. He begins by showing how the project came together. (The original script was rather darker, more SF than comedy.)

His analysis of the movie itself is serious but never pretentious, yet never betrays the humor of the film. (His comments on the "Ned Ryerson" character made me laugh.) His discussion of Bill Murray's performance is wonderful.

Finally, Gilbey briefly sketches the influence of "Groundhog Day" on subsequent movies. All in all, a thorough and most enjoyable and informative book, a fine addition to the BFI series.

Average customer rating:

A wonderful choice highly recommended for any collection strong in holiday titles.
Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day!

Manufacturer: Holiday House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0823420035

Book Description

Every February 2, people all across the country wonder about the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. Will he see his shadow on that day or won't he? Will spring come early or late? Here is information about Groundhog Day, its origins, and the animal at the center of this delightful annual event.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful choice highly recommended for any collection strong in holiday titles........2007-03-07

This reissue of a popular holiday title is perfect for celebrating Goundhog Day so if you missed adding it to your collection, here's another chance. Libraries strong in holiday books for grades 2-4 will find GROUNDHOG DAY a fine blend of visual drawings and history surveying the day's origins and facts about the groundhog. A wonderful choice highly recommended for any collection strong in holiday titles.

Groundhog Day!.......2007-02-11

A bit wordy for three year-olds but very informative with great illustrations. I definitely recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Great Book
fun story
Fun story

Substitute Groundhog
Pat Miller
Manufacturer: Albert Whitman & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0807576433

Book Description

It's almost Groundhog Day! Everyone knows that Groundhog has an important job to do every February 2, but this year he's not feeling well. Dr. Owl diagnoses him with the flu and orders two days of bed rest. But how will people know the weather forecast if Groundhog is down in his hole in bed?

Then Groundhog has in idea-he can hire a substitute! Maybe Squirrel can be the substitute, or Eagle, or Bear. But at the subtitute auditions, Groundhog realizes that none of his friends is quite right for the job. Will he be able to find a substitute or will Groundhog Day be cancelled this year?

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-03-01

I am an elementary special education teacher. I bought this book to read to my class of 1st - 5th grade students. It was a great book for all of my students. The book brought about a discussion of what groundhog's day was. We also discussed the other animals in the book and why they were/were not able to do the groundhog's job.

fun story.......2007-02-04

This is a fun story that compares characteristics of several animals who are applying to be the temporary groundhog while Phil is out sick. Miller's story is great for teaching comparing and contrasting and has some great opportunities for children to make predictions. Children in Texas will really enjoy the outcome, wherein Armadillo saves the day.

Fun story.......2007-01-06

Kathi Ember's warm drawings enhance the story from Pat Miller, Substitute Groundhog, telling of a young groundhog who gets sick the day before Groundhog Day and is told by Dr. Owl to stay in bed. His search for a substitute groundhog leads to a new assessment of his many unique qualities to fit the job description in this fun story.

Fluffy Meets The Groundhog (level 3) (Hello Reader)

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mom of 3
Fantastic!
Fluffy wants to be a groundPIG
I like fluffy meets the groundhog.

Fluffy Meets The Groundhog (level 3) (Hello Reader)
Kate Mcmullan
Manufacturer: Cartwheel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439206723

Book Description

When Fluffy stumbles upon a strange den, he finds himself face to face with one very shy groundhog. With people and cameras waiting above the hole for a weather prediction, Fluffy thinks of a great idea to save Groundhog Day--and get some attention, too!

Customer Reviews:

mom of 3.......2006-07-29

This is the summer before second grade for my son and Fluffy books are perfect to keep him reading throughout the summer. Fluffy is a guinea pig who lives in a classroom. He is very funny and witty. Fluffy will keep your child laughing and interested.

Fantastic!.......2006-03-15

I love all the Fluffy books! Fluffy figured out that the groundhog was nice.

Fluffy wants to be a groundPIG.......2006-01-20

Fluffy is a guinea pig who spends his days in an elementary classroom. As part of their lesson about groundhogs and Groundhog Day, the children bring three additional guinea pigs to school to stage a GroundPIG Day race. Fluffy breaks away from the pack and darts into a hole that turns out to be a real-life groundhog burrow. There the groundhog admits that he's shy and doesn't want to face the media. Fluffy, our hero, takes his place. His family at home is later surprised to see Fluffy on TV that night, not seeing his shadow.

This is a fun Level Three book for 1st and 2nd graders. The illustrations are comical, and the storyline is amusing and discussion-provoking.

I like fluffy meets the groundhog........2002-01-25

I thought it was funny when Fluffy pretended to be the ground hog. Easy to read. I like the worm on the cover. I think its a good book.

Groundhog Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays)

Average customer rating:

Great facts for early readers!
Great Holiday Book
adorable!

Groundhog Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays)
Michelle Aki Becker
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0516279246

Customer Reviews:

Great facts for early readers!.......2005-02-09

As an elemenatry librarian I found this book to be very clear and concise about the "holiday". The text is straight forward, clear and to the point. It also presents a starting point for further research about the holiday for older readers. The photos are very clear and there is a "glossary" of sorts that I have used with Kindergarten classes.

Great Holiday Book.......2003-09-09

Groundhog Day is a good introduction for young children to the holiday. My class will love the photos.

adorable!.......2003-09-09

I love this series and this new addition is simply adorable! Perfect for a young reader learning about Groundhog Day.

Average customer rating:

Every Ground Hog Has Six Weeks of Fame
First time's a charm, but the second?

Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather
Bruce Koscielniak
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0395883989

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly As if a Bill Murray movie wasn't enough, the Groundhog Day tradition gets additional play in the controlled mayhem of this picture book. Geoffrey Groundhog awakens one February 2nd and applies his mother's teachings to predict when spring will arrive. Reported in the local newspaper, his forecast proves correct, and all the animals of Mooseflats County are duly impressed. The following year, pigs, deer, and rabbits surround Geoffrey's burrow-but so many TV lights flash in Geoffrey's eyes that he can't tell whether he has seen his shadow or not. The media madness mounts-and subsides only after Geoffrey calls on his mother for expert counsel. Koscielniak (Bear and Bunny Grow Tomatoes) tones down the frenzy of activity with a subdued palette of olive greens, browns and other wintry hues. At the same time he keeps the tone light, integrating into his narrative humorous newspaper headlines ("Was There a Shadow? Weather Picture Muddled") and lacing his antic ink-and-watercolor illustrations with satisfyingly silly scenery, like a matronly pig balancing a tray of teacups at the annual Spring Tea. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Every Ground Hog Has Six Weeks of Fame.......2006-09-10

A satire on the commercialization of holidays, our obsession with celebrity, and the media's tendency to make natural things seem unnatural, "Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather" is also a cleverly written and funny book about the secrets of Ground Hog Day. I like how author/illustrator Bruce Koscielniak bypasses a lengthy explanation of that whole things about how groundhog seeing it's shadow (or not) predicts whether we're in for more winter or a quick transition to Spring. Mrs. Goundhog, reading to Geoffrey in their cozy underground living room (with a whimsical wooden-planks-on-a-pole ladder to the side) FROM "Groundhog Lore," simply states: "If you see your shadow on Groundhog Day, go back to sleep, because winter will last six more weeks. Of there is no shadow, spring will soon be here."

Geoffrey doesn't see his shadow, and tells this to Merton Moose, who sensationalizes the brief event into front page news. I wish that Bruce Koscielniak had drawn Moose as a wizened and jaded reporter, so of the Walter Matthau of moose. Geoffrey's success, and Moose's publicity results in a media event the next February. There are television cameras, lots and lots of unrelated Groundhog's Day sales and promos (e.g., a billboard for "Big Tooth toothpaste, showing Geoffrey brushing his... big tooth; the "Uptown Cuisine Restaurant" sporting a banner, "Geoffrey ate here"). The mania even gets to Geoffrey, who shows up wearing a Hollywood-ish scarf and shades.

Unfortunately, when Geoffrey hurries to the ground for his prediction, there are so many cameras and people that, "I could hardly see the ground of me, much less my own shadow!"--and he has more than a shadow of a doubt about the upcoming season. Even this "failure" gets prominent newspaper and TV coverage. The consequences are humorously exaggerated; in fact, there's so much confusion that "all weather reports were canceled" until Geoffrey makes up his mind about what he saw. Fortunately, weather forecasting is in the family, and Geoffrey's off the hook thanks to Mom.

The conclusion's a bit flat, though perhaps appropriate for bedtime, Geoffrey, tired from all that forecasting, goes to bed. Koscielniak succeeds at both the children and adult levels, writing a book with multi-layered appeal. I like books like this, because it means that adults won't tire of reading it over (and over) to kids. The illustrations and fanciful narrative tone are very similar to James Marshall's (of the "Worst" series, and the "Wainy" series): Casually drawn lettering, heavy use of "sketchy" lines, faces full of expression, and a light watercolor touch. Highly recommended.

First time's a charm, but the second?.......2006-01-01

Geoffrey does a good job at predicting the weather the first time he has to do it. But the second year, he oversleeps and then gets distracted by the ensuing media frenzy. He eventually issues a decision based on a phone call to his mother.

Simple line drawings are accompanied by the fun-to-read front pages of newspapers from Geoffrey's town. Mr. Koscielniak may have confused groundhogs with beavers, for they are all depicted with protruding front teeth. No matter: this is an amusing Groundhog Day story for the young.

Average customer rating:

An interesting take on Groundhog Day
Good for Older Children (4-5 years)

Gregory's Shadow (Picture Puffins)

Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142301965

Book Description

Gregory is a shy groundhog, and having his friend Shadow close by makes him feel brave. But one day Gregory and Shadow go outside to look for food, and they get separated. Scared and lonely, they search and search for one another. To make matters worse, tomorrow is Groundhog Day, and everyone will be waiting to see if Gregory and his shadow leave their home together. Will the two friends find each other in time for Groundhog Day?

"Freeman's adorable, loosely sketched illustrations are colored in a palette of blues for the snowscapes and earth tones for the underground scenes. The simple story line is just right for preschoolers." (Booklist)

Customer Reviews:

An interesting take on Groundhog Day.......2005-12-22

Skittish little Gregory Groundhog is used to having his Shadow follow him all the time, everywhere he goes. But on February 1st when Gregory ran back inside his house, he and his Shadow got separated. Each one searched for the other, and eventually they get together again, just in time for Groundhog Day. Gregory coaxed Shadow to hide closely behind him, unseen, so that winter would be soon over.

This story is an interesting approach to Groundhog Day. The chalk illustrations lend texture to the pages, and even shadows -- an important part of the story -- are well portrayed. See my Listmania list for other recommendations on this topic.

Good for Older Children (4-5 years).......2003-01-28

Gregory is a groundhog who loses his shadow. He and his shadow finally find each other and make a plan for Groundhog Day.

This was a little too wordy for my class. I also think this is too abstract for the Three Year Olds I teach. They need to see the shadow stay to learn reality; the fantasy of the shadow and groundhog being separated just didn't make sense to them. But they liked the illustrations and played "catch the shadow"; a game they invented after the story time.

Book Description

It's autumn and time for Groundhog to sleep until Groundhog Day, but he cannot fall asleep! Maybe a little walk will make him sleepy. When he steps outside his burrow, he's in for some surprises. After all his nocurnal wanderings, will Groundhog be able to wake up for his big day?

Customer Reviews:

A groundhog tale with a unique perspective.......2006-01-01

In many Groundhog Day stories, the main character sleeps deeply or even oversleeps. Not so here. Groundhog goes to bed on Columbus Day but keeps waking up once a month during the winter. Each time, he thinks that maybe a little walk outside will make him sleepy again. Oh, the things he sees for the first time! Witches and children dressed up in costumes. Turkeys and pumpkins. Colored lights on houses and a man named Santa Claus. At the end of each excursion, someone takes Groundhog home and reads him a bedtime story to put him to sleep. When February comes and it's truly time for Groundhog to awaken, he does so reluctantly. He leaves his burrow, sees his shadow, and then goes back to bed for six more weeks of Winter. (Reading a bedtime story to himself first, of course.) A note on the final page explains the history of the Groundhog Day ritual.

Judy Cox has approached this subject in a unique way. We don't give a second thought to what we would miss out on if we were to hibernate during the winter months. And kudos to her for not giving Groundhog a human name. Paul Meisel's colorful illustrations suit the mood of the storyline and portray Groundhog as a timid but inquisitive and friendly creature. An interesting book for the season. See my Listmania list for more books about Groundhog Day.

The Insomniac Groundhog.......2005-03-15

This is a clever and very colorful story about a groundhog who just can't seem to get the hang of hibernation. While his peers presumably sleep from autumn until February, this Groundhog keeps waking up-just in time for the holidays he usually misses. In a coup de grace, author Judy Cox's Groundhog has an alarm clock that keeps track of time by months! Each time he wakes up, Cox's narrative repeats the following (changing only the month):

"Groundhog curled up in his warm cozy bed. He closed his eyes. He tossed and turned, but he couldn't get to sleep. Finally he got out of bed. He peered at his clock. Half-past November."

Each new adventure starts with the lines "Groundhog went inside. He saw things he'd never seen before," adding a sense of fresh wonder at his new experiences. At Halloween he sees the costumed children and scarecrows, and a friendly witch flies him back to bed and reads him a story. The next time he wakes up, Autumn, and he sees "tall yellow corn shocks and round orange pumpkins." A turkey flies him home and reads him a story, but not before proclaiming," It's almost winter. You should be in bed, and I should be making myself scarce." At Christmas time, who but Santa himself flies the excited Groundhog back home on his toy-filled sleigh, reading him a Christmas story, and giving him a cookie. On his big day, February 2nd, Groundhog is awakened by the alarm; he has slept very well and can scarcely believe it is time to get up already! Followed by his ever-faithful mouse pal, he goes outside and does his winter prediction duties.

Paul Meisel's depiction of the friendly groundhog and the seasonal colors are appealing, and Cox's narrative premise, complemented by her gentle humor, make this interesting and engaging read. Cox also includes a one-page history of groundhog's day after the story. Bright colors, a casual personal-looking font, and nice glossy paper add to the book's appeal.

A Good Read.......2005-02-04

What I loved about this book: the illustrations, what a wonderful use of color and texture -- the language repetition that pre-readers and early readers love to hear -- the ritualistic march through fall and winter holidays -- even the dedication (how clever, how true!). There are a lot of books out there, this is one of the best.

At Last! A Really Good Groundhog Day Book! .......2004-12-09

Finally someone wrote a nice groundhog story that will entertain and interest young readers. It also teaches a sense of time by mentioning other holidays associated with fall and winter. Fun!

Very entertaining.......2004-04-24

This is a very nice book... the illustrations are terrific and the writing is clever and amusing without being too cutesy. It's perfect for my 3-year old and I already plan to make it a birthday gift for friends.

Will Spring Be Early? or Will Spring Be Late? (Harper Trophy Book)

Average customer rating:

Delightful story for Groundhog Day

Will Spring Be Early? or Will Spring Be Late? (Harper Trophy Book)
Crockett Johnson
Manufacturer: Trophy Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064432246

Customer Reviews:

Delightful story for Groundhog Day.......2001-02-02

This is another of Crockett Johnson's wonderful gems for younger readers. Groundhog appears from his burrow in the snowy meadow to look for his shadow and to make his annual prediction. All of the animals, except grouchy Pig, are thrilled with Groundhog's prediction, especially when Groundhog produces tangible evidence that spring has already arrived. When Pig attempts to eat the evidence and makes a prediction of his own, the results are hilarious. This book is out-of-print, but perhaps you'll be as lucky as we were to find a copy tucked away in our school library!

Piggy Party (The Cul-de-Sac Kids, Book 19)

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Piggy Party (The Cul-de-Sac Kids, Book 19)
Beverly Lewis
Manufacturer: Bethany House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764221248
Release Date: 1999-01-01

Book Description

When Carly Hunter takes the class guinea pig home for the weekend and decides to test Piggy's skill for weather-telling on Groundhog Day, trouble can't be far away. Ages 7-10. Cul-de-sac Kids book 19.

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