San José Public LibraryeSpotlight - Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is Almost Here!
February 2 is Groundhog Day, that annual occasion in North America when a furry beast gets to predict the weather! Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or (my favorite) whistle pigs, are burrow-dwelling animals that hibernate during the winter. Legend has it that, if a groundhog comes out of his burrow on February 2 and sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, spring will be around the corner.
As a form of meteorology, this is questionable. As an observance, it's good fun! The most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog that has been faithfully predicting spring since 1887 from Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Check the news this Friday to find out if you can start putting away your winter clothes!
Want to find out more?
Check out some of our handy eResources - designed to fill you with knowledge ASAP.
Here's an overview of the holiday at Explora — complete with references so that you can find even more!
Explora is an online encyclopedia that comes in three different grade levels: Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.
Want to know more about groundhogs? Check out this eResource. It comes from a book at Gale Virtual Reference Library (we like to call it GVRL for short). At GVRL you can find lots of great information by searching ebooks. You don't have to check them out -- just get the information you need!
Read or listen to a book about Groundhogs and their big day
Would you rather check out a book and savor it? All of these are available right now -- all you need is your library card.
Want even more?
Check out NoveList for recommendations. NoveList is a resource that offers reading recommendations. Just search for a subject, title, or author and you'll get lots of suggestion, plus Read-Alikes for your favorite book or author! There's even a handy "Check the Library Catalog" button that lets you see if we have the book.
Like Explora, NoveList is also available for different age levels. Try NoveList K-8 Plus for kids in Kindergarten to Teen and NoveList Plus for Teens and Adults.
Bonus:
This isn't an eResource, but I can't resist adding it!
Check out the Bill Murray classic, Groundhog Day!
A grumpy weatherman sent to cover festivities in Punxsutawney finds himself becoming much too familiar with Groundhog day! Kids, make sure to ask your adult before you watch since this movie is rated PG!
Sources
The information in this article comes from:
- Murray, Julie. Groundhog Day. ABDO Publishing Company, 2014.
- Weber, Amy. "Groundhog Day." Salem Press Primary Encyclopedia, 2015. EBSCOhost, Retrieved 2018-01-30.
- Image: Groundhog on Laval University campus, Quebec, Canada By Cephas (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Edit: The author mistakenly stated that Feburary 2 is this Thursday. It is actually on Friday!
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