Groundhog's Runaway Shadow

Punxsutawney resident Phil, a furry brown groundhog, and his shadow have been constant companions but are growing apart, both in terms of personal proclivities ("Phil loved scary movies. Shadow, not so much") and all-around outlook ("Phil liked to be on time. Shadow liked to stop and smell the roses"). Biedrzycki (Breaking News: Bears to the Rescue) maximizes the differences between Phil and Shadow by giving the groundhog and his fellow animals an almost three-dimensional roundness, setting them in a carefully detailed and brightly colored world. Shadow, meanwhile, is rendered in flat, fuzzy-edged, gray-blue silhouettes, though that doesn't stop him from flirting with a rabbit on the subway or letting loose a giant burp while Phil quietly eats dinner. After matters come to a head, Shadow decamps to explore the world, eventually leading a remorseful Phil to seek out his absent companion. The somewhat drawn-out story can seem more like a platform for Biedrzycki's comic vignettes of Shadow's outsize behavior, but the Groundhog Day references are kept to a minimum, making this a story that could be enjoyed any time of year. Ages 4-8. (Dec.)

PreS-Gr 2--As Phil the groundhog matures, he has less and less appreciation for his shadow. Once a welcome companion who helped Phil through the tricky parts of growing up, Shadow wants different things, and as adults, the two go their own ways. Shadow is eager to have adventures, and Phil loves his ever more placid life. Their time apart affords them each a new perspective, and their reunion (after a frantic search) is no surprise; friends need each other. Those who have outgrown a friendship will recognize themselves in the characters. Older readers might even see a bit of the typical re-creation of self that occurs in adolescence. Biedrzycki's soft-edged digital drawings of goofy animals alternate between full-page spreads and episodic comic panels that help convey the passage of time and change in setting. VERDICT A fun read-aloud with a subtle life lesson for Groundhog Day and beyond.--Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence