FICTION

Groundhog's Runaway Shadow

by David BIEDRZYCKI
illus. by David Biedrzycki. 32p. Charlesbridge. Dec. 2016. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781580897341.
COPY ISBN
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.
Reviewed by Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence , Dec 01, 2016

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