Punxsutawney Phyllis knows everything there is to know about the weather. When she wakes up on April Fools' Day, she notices that something is just not right. Spring should be in the air, but there's a blizzard coming instead. Unfortunately, no one listens to her. After all it's April Fools' Day, and everyone thinks she's joking. Or is she?

To the dismay of Phyllis, the other groundhogs proceed with the Spring Treasure Hunt as planned. As they begin to solve the riddles, the snowflakes begin to fall. Just when they reach the end of the clues, they must find another answer. With the raging blizzard making it impossible to see, how will the little groundhogs ever find their way home? It's up to Phyllis to find the way back as well as the answer to all the riddles. Phyllis also gets the very last laugh...April Fool!

The Bottom Line: Kids will love this amusing story of a clever groundhog. Ebbeler's charming and colorful illustrations are full of details making it perfect for story hour. Additionally, the last page in this picture book explains the history of April Fools' Day. This is an engaging and fun read for kids in grades K - 2.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )

In my opinion, this is a good book. I liked the pictures; they were busy, but were informative and went along with the storyline. I also liked how April Fool’s Day was incorporated into the message of the book. The story is relatable to any age. I know that if I try to tell my friends or family something on April Fool’s Day, they are going to be very hesitant to believe me. I think that this story is great for young children to hear because of the way our cultural perceives this day. I also liked the informational reading at the end of the book. The central message of this book is even though April Fool’s Day is filled with practical jokes, it is important to remember that not everyone is playing a joke. ( )

A perfect read aloud for April 1st. ( )

Phyllis the groundhog wakes up on April first, the day of the planned treasure hunt, feeling funny in her stomach; Phyllis knows winter is not over and that it is going to snow. She is right, but no one listens to her. Her friends pretend snow is falling, but then say, “April Fool!” Phyllis and her friends go on the treasure hunt, staying warm as snow begins to fall, following mysterious clues that lead them finally to the treasure.

A clever combination of stories about April Fool’s Day and Groundhog Day, with a bit of The Boy Who Cried Wolf and a treasure hunt thrown in.

“A few minutes later Pete yelled down from the mouth of the burrow, ‘Phyllis really was right! It’s snowing!’

Everyone rushed up the tunnel. Sure enough, a curtain of fat white flakes drifted across the opening.

‘Oh, my!’ exclaimed Aunt Sassy.

‘April Fool!’ shouted Pete. ‘It’s only confetti!’” ( )