Everyone is excited for Punxsatawney Phil’s big day. . . except for him.It’s the night before Groundhog Day, and Phil can’t sleep. His family’s voices fill his head:
It’s a family tradition! You’ll make us so proud! We’re all counting on you, you, you! Making pancakes usually sets Phil’s mind at ease, but before he can finish making this batch his little sister, Marla, joins him in the kitchen. She can’t wait for his big day and insists on helping him practice. She even teaches him a poem to help him keep things straight.
But when Phil’s big (scary) day arrives, his nerves take over and his mind goes blank. What had Marla said? If you see your shadow does it mean an early spring? Or is that if you don’t see your shadow? His worries are all coming true until he has an idea that saves the day.
In her picture book
Phil’s Big Day, Liza Woodruff warmly and reassuringly addresses the common but consuming feelings anxiety brings up, and suggests coping mechanisms useful for grown-ups and kids alike. Readers who struggle to have fun in the face of their fears will resonate with Phil’s restless thoughts and find joy as Phil takes on his challenges with a supportive sister at his side.
Liza Woodruff has has illustrated over twenty picture books including three she also wrote:
Emerson Barks,
A Quieter Story, and
Once Upon a Winter Day, which received four starred reviews. She lives with her family in Vermont.
"Digitally collaged images by Woodruff (Once Upon a Winter Day) contrast the snugness, both emotional and physical, of the groundhog family’s lives with more elaborate scenes of Phil’s frantic state of mind, pulling readers along to a revelation that asking for help can make a big moment—and an asker—all the better."
—Publishers Weekly"Woodruff’s picture book offers a comforting, relatable approach to managing anxiety."
—The Bulletin"A great choice for libraries needing stories on the topic of Groundhog’s Day."
—School Library Journal
"A sweet and candid representation of anxiety, with a creative twist."
—Kirkus Reviews
