Page 1
"I will not do Groundhog Day anymore!" said Mr. Groundhog. "I'm tired of everyone getting mad at me! They see my shadow and blame me for six more weeks of winter. I quit!"
Page 2
Mr. Groundhog stood next
to the hole in the ground
where he lived in the park.
Everyone would wait
there to see him on
Groundhog Day. He jogged
around the park to
help him think.
Page 3
He stopped fast when he saw
he was nose–to–nose with Mrs. Rabbit.
"Oh, hello, Mrs. Rabbit," said Mr. Groundhog.
Mrs. Rabbit smiled.
"Will you do Groundhog Day for me this year?"
asked Mr. Groundhog.
"I'm sorry, I can't. I'm much too busy getting ready for Easter.
I have eggs to color and I must practice the Bunny Hop to
lead the parade. But I have something for you."
Page 4
Mrs. Rabbit lifted the lid of
a trunk. She pulled out a vest.
"This was my grandfather's
special-occasion vest.
You would look very nice
wearing this on
Groundhog Day."
"Thank you,"
said Mr. Groundhog.
He slipped the vest on
and continued his walk.
Page 5
Then he met Mr. Turtle. "Hi, Mr. Turtle.
Would you mind doing Groundhog Day for me?"
asked Mr. Groundhog. "All you have to do is
come out and greet the crowd of people."
"I would, but I can't fit into that small opening
of your home. My shell would get stuck,"
explained Mr. Turtle. "But I have something for you."
Page 6
Mr. Groundhog followed
Mr. Turtle to a cluster
of bushes. Mr. Turtle
reached in and lifted
out a hat.
"This is my holiday hat.
I want you to wear it
on Groundhog Day,"
said Mr. Turtle.
Page 7
“Thank you,”
Mr. Groundhog said as he put on the hat.
Next, he saw Mrs. Squirrel. “Mrs. Squirrel,
will you do Groundhog Day for me?”
“I am really sorry, but I would be too afraid to go
down into that dark hole to get to your home. But
I have something for you,” said Mrs. Squirrel.
Page 8
She reached up and broke some branches off a tree.
"You can use one of these for a cane. It will look
nice with your vest and hat."
"Thank you," said
Mr. Groundhog as
he hooked the
branch around
his arm.
Page 9
As Mr. Groundhog walked
back home, he met Mrs. Raccoon.
"Mr. Groundhog, you look
very handsome. I have something for you,"
said Mrs. Raccoon. She took a piece
of ribbon off her head and tied it
around Mr. Groundhog's neck.
Page 10
“Thank you,”
said Mr. Groundhog.
The next morning, sunlight woke the sleeping groundhog. Mr. Groundhog got up and hurried into his outfit.
Page 11
With all his courage,
he reached up and
somersaulted out of the hole. He saw his shadow somersault along with him. Then Mr. Groundhog tipped his hat to the crowd. His shadow tipped its hat, too.
Page 12
The band began to play.
Mr. Groundhog reached
out his arms and began
to dance. His shadow
danced, too.
Page 13
Mr. Turtle looked at the ground
and saw that he had a shadow.
He began to dance. His shadow
danced, too. Mrs. Squirrel joined
in. Soon everyone was dancing.
Page 14
"I never knew how much
fun a shadow could be,"
said Mrs. Squirrel. "I'm looking
forward to next Groundhog Day."
Page 15
Mr. Groundhog was happy. He smiled at his shadow and said,
"Thank you, my friend. I'll see you again the next sunny day."
