Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby and illustrated by Carmen Segovia (Sterling, January 2011) is partly a Groundhog Day book and partly a most unusual story about a groundhog and a fox becoming friends. When Brownie appears on February 2, she’s welcomed by a deep snow. She’s of course bothered by the residual winter, but knows she must be patient: Spring will come. Meanwhile, the fox is very hungry and wants to eat Brownie. As Brownie encourages his patience by getting a few things done first (like ice skating), Fox begins to have fun playing with Brownie. By the end, they both are willing to wait for spring, because there is plenty of fun to be had with each other as friends.
I love the soft illustrations in the white wintery landscape, and I found the friendship that developed and the reminder to be “patient” a spectacular and memorable one.
