Make Groundhog Day more exciting with fun books and activities to pair with those read-alouds. Elementary students go crazy for story-and-activity pairings, so get to planning!
Popular Groundhog Day Books for Kids
Groundhog Day is one of those simple, seasonal holidays that kids instantly latch onto. It feels light and playful, and it also opens the door to meaningful cross-curricular learning. Teachers can use the day to explore weather, shadows, predictions, storytelling, problem solving, and a little bit of science. Kids love the excitement of waiting to see if the groundhog will spot its shadow, and teachers appreciate how easy it is to turn this event into a week-long lesson.
Groundhog Day books are a great way to anchor the week, especially when you want quick read-alouds that lead straight into hands-on activities. I love pairing these books with activities from my Groundhog Day Fun Pack because it gives teachers everything they need for reading, writing, STEM, crafts, and simple prediction lessons. Books plus ready-to-go activities can turn this quirky day into something memorable for students in kindergarten through third grade.
Below is a teacher-approved list of favorite Groundhog Day books.
Table of Contents
- Popular Groundhog Day Books for Kids
- The Best Groundhog Day Books for Kids
- Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller
- Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow
- Groundhog’s Dilemma by Kristen Remenar
- Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub
- Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace
- Go to Sleep, Groundhog! by Judy Cox
- Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright
- Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman
- Punxsutawney Phyllis by Susanna Leonard Hill
- The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing
- How to Catch a Groundhog by Alice Walstead
- Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons
- Who Will See Their Shadows This Year? by Jerry Pallotta
- Groundhog’s Day Off by Robb Pearlman
- Easy Classroom Activities to Pair With Groundhog Day Books
- Tips for Making Groundhog Day Meaningful in K to 3
- Resources to Help You Teach in February
- More Winter Activities for Kids
The Best Groundhog Day Books for Kids
Here are 15 popular, recently loved Groundhog Day titles that work well for whole-group read-alouds, small groups, and literacy centers.
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller
This funny story follows Groundhog, who comes down with the flu and must find someone to take his place for the big prediction. Each animal auditions with enthusiasm but quickly learns the job is trickier than it looks. Teachers love how it introduces problem-solving and point of view through humor.
Pair with: Use the Fun Pack’s writing prompts to have students choose a “substitute groundhog” and explain their pick. This is an excellent writing and SEL activity.
Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow
Groundhog is tired of being famous for only one day, so he spends the book explaining why he deserves more recognition. The mix of facts and humor helps kids memorably learn about animal traits. Teachers appreciate the blend of nonfiction and character voice.
Pair with: Try a simple STEM/creative challenge where students build a small burrow using paper tubes and craft supplies. It pairs easily with the Fun Pack’s burrow activity and reinforces science.
Groundhog’s Dilemma by Kristen Remenar
Groundhog feels pressured when his forest friends ask him to deliver a prediction that benefits them. This story explores honesty, friendship, and staying true to yourself. Teachers love the SEL focus wrapped inside a seasonal theme.
Pair with: Students can complete a quick SEL writing response about making fair choices, using the Fun Pack’s writing templates or basic notebook paper.
Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub
This playful nonfiction book teaches students how weather works through a cast of groundhog “students” attending weather school. It offers lots of real science in kid-friendly language. Teachers love using it to introduce weather vocabulary before prediction activities.
Pair with: Use the Fun Pack’s shadow science experiment to explore how light makes shadows and why they change, reinforcing the science from the book.
Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace
A group of friends plans a Valentine’s party, but realizes Groundhog Day might not attend if he sees his shadow. They work together to help him overcome his fear and join in. Teachers enjoy using this story for SEL and friendship discussions.
Pair with: Have students create simple paper-bag groundhog puppets to retell the story. This works as a craft and comprehension retelling activity.
Go to Sleep, Groundhog! by Judy Cox
Groundhog keeps waking up too early and wanders through holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The repeating structure and holiday cameos make it a student favorite. Teachers appreciate how well it supports sequencing and retelling.
Pair with: Use the Fun Pack’s printable groundhog craft and have students write about a holiday Groundhog might accidentally visit next. This blends writing and craft.
Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright
The town tries everything to coax a very cranky groundhog out of his burrow. Repetition and rhyme make this a lively read-aloud. Teachers love using it to model prediction and problem-solving.
Pair with: Try a prediction graph from the Fun Pack (Will groundhog come out? Why or why not?) to connect the story to simple data collection.
Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman
In this sweet story, Gregory the groundhog becomes separated from his shadow and discovers he doesn’t feel brave without it. The gentle tone makes it perfect for lessons on friendship and courage. Teachers appreciate its usefulness for SEL and its potential for discussion.
Pair with: Use the shadow science experiment from the Fun Pack or have students trace their own shadows outside to explore how shadows form. It blends SEL and science.
Punxsutawney Phyllis by Susanna Leonard Hill
Phyllis believes she would make a great weather predictor, but no one takes her seriously because she’s not the “official” groundhog. This witty story showcases determination and breaking expectations. Teachers love the strong female character and the built-in prediction theme.
Pair with: Use the Fun Pack’s prediction graphing pages to vote on whether Phyllis would see her shadow. This ties in math and writing.
The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing
This rhyming story follows families as they prep for Groundhog Day and watch the big prediction unfold. Its playful style mirrors the classic Night Before series. Teachers love it for building excitement and introducing the holiday’s traditions.
Pair with: Students can complete a quick craft-and-write activity about how they prepare for Groundhog Day, using templates from the Fun Pack or blank paper.
How to Catch a Groundhog by Alice Walstead
This installment of the popular series follows kids as they try to trap a groundhog with increasingly silly inventions. The pattern and humor hook even reluctant readers. Teachers appreciate it for teaching cause-and-effect.
Pair with: Try the Fun Pack’s STEM burrow building activity or challenge students to design a “groundhog-friendly trap” with classroom recyclables. This is a STEM and problem-solving activity.
Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons
This nonfiction book explains the history, traditions, and science behind Groundhog Day in classic Gail Gibbons style. Clear diagrams and kid-friendly explanations make the content easy to understand. Teachers love using it to anchor their factual lessons.
Pair with: Use the Fun Pack’s weather prediction activity or have students create a simple fact book using folded paper to reinforce nonfiction learning.
Who Will See Their Shadows This Year? by Jerry Pallotta
Animals across the farm try to join in on Groundhog Day, only to learn that not every creature is suited for weather prediction. The playful tone helps kids compare animals and their traits. Teachers love using it for comparing and contrasting.
Pair with: Students can make a quick class chart comparing which animals would make good “substitute groundhogs.” This works as reading comprehension and SEL.
Groundhog’s Day Off by Robb Pearlman
Groundhog gets fed up with constant attention and leaves town, giving everyone a lesson in appreciation and gratitude. The humorous storyline offers SEL moments about valuing others. Teachers love its theme of gratitude and community.
Pair with: Pair it with the Fun Pack’s writing prompts: students can write a short note telling Groundhog why he’s appreciated. This blends SEL and writing.
Easy Classroom Activities to Pair With Groundhog Day Books
1. Graphing and Voting Activities
Kids love to vote on whether the groundhog will see its shadow. Create a class prediction chart, tally chart, or picture graph. Books like Substitute Groundhog and Punxsutawney Phyllis flow naturally into this activity.
The Groundhog Day Fun Pack includes ready-to-use graphing pages and prediction templates, making this part of the lesson quick to prep.
2. Shadow Science Experiments
Set up a lamp or flashlight and let students create mini shadows with simple cutouts or classroom objects. They can move objects closer or farther from the light source and observe how the shadows change. Pair this with Groundhog Weather School or nonfiction titles for a strong science connection.
3. Groundhog Crafts and Writing
A printable groundhog craft gives kids a hands-on way to wrap up a read-aloud. Add writing prompts like If I Were the Groundhog or I Would Choose a Substitute Groundhog Because. Puppets can also support retelling and partner reading.
These templates are included in the Fun Pack. Just print, and your students can cut and assemble.
4. Build a Groundhog Burrow STEM
Using paper tubes, cups, tissue paper, and natural materials, students can create simple burrows. Tie this activity to Groundhog Gets a Say or any nonfiction book that explains where groundhogs live.
5. Weather and Prediction Lessons
Explore how meteorologists predict weather. Create a simple prediction chart for the week and compare it to the real forecast. Books like Groundhog Weather School build a nice foundation.
Tips for Making Groundhog Day Meaningful in K to 3
Please keep the tone playful and low-pressure since the holiday itself is lighthearted. Include SEL moments by talking about friendship, patience, and problem-solving when reading books like Groundhog Day.
Use the books to create mini literacy centers with sequencing, character traits, or vocabulary.
Add puppets or crafts so students can retell stories in small groups. Keep activities hands-on and short so they match the attention span of early primary students.
Groundhog Day brings a bit of fun to the middle of winter and can easily become a highlight of your February plans. Try choosing one book from the list and pairing it with a simple activity. Your students will latch onto the routine and enjoy the chance to predict, create, and explore.
Resources to Help You Teach in February
Free Groundhog Prediction Activities
Try making fun predictions about groundhogs in your classroom with this FREE graphing resource. Students can share their opinions, then graph the results as a class!
Click the image below to grab a copy of the poster kit with graphing template.
Groundhog Day Fun Pack
The Groundhog Day Fun Pack includes reading activities, crafts, STEM challenges, writing prompts, graphing tools, a shadow experiment, and more. It is designed to pair with any book on this list and helps you save prep time during a hectic time of year. It works well for kindergarten through third grade and gives you enough material for the whole week.
More Winter Activities for Kids
groundhog day directed drawing
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