ALA Booklist

In a tale written about a rodent created by the illustrator, a groundhog is irritated that she has just seen her shadow and fends off a hungry but rather weak-willed fox by insisting that it's not mealtime yet. After wandering over a snowy landscape, skating on an icy pond, and sitting down to a picnic of cocoa and cinnamon toast, the two spot a robin and, heartened by this harbinger, part ways with promises to meet the next day. Placing her two figures (who are depicted nearly the same size) in a spacious, open woodland setting, Segovia gives the episode a cozy air and endows February Fox with particularly expressive ears and Brownie with a long red scarf and a picnic basket full of goodies. Fox's focus on eating notwithstanding, this is not so much a tale of suspense and trickery as a tongue-in-cheek encounter between two unlikely new friends who discover a shared impatience for spring. Winter-weary children will sympathize obably enough to forgive Brownie's credulity-stretching survival.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

On February second, Brownie the groundhog goes looking for signs of spring. Instead she finds a hungry fox. Brownie manages to outwit the inexperienced fox; what's more, she discovers he's not bad company. Brightened by sky-blue and fox-red, the illustrations for this humorous tale set the wintry scene well and help create distinctive personalities for the two animals.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2011)

PreS-Gr 2 When Brownie wakes up on the second of February, she opens her door, looks out, and scoffs, "Phooey, six more weeks of winter." She does not like waiting. Before she can go back inside, a fox pounces on her, eager for breakfast. But clever Brownie finds a way to keep him busy through lunch and then dinner, spending their time looking for spring. After some skating, they've both worked up an appetite and the fox is tired of waiting, too. By tricking Fox, Brownie's life is spared and a new friendship begins, just as the first sign of spring arrives. Segovia's acrylic and ink artwork captures the clear sky of winter and accentuates the white/gray of a heavy snowfall. Brownie's black/brown fur is set off with a bright red scarf as an equally vibrant Fox stands out against a chilly landscape. The theme of outfoxing a fox is a familiar one, but this story is particularly endearing. Children will find it delightful.— C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY

Kirkus Reviews

Given that Groundhog Day doesn't even begin to garner the same wealth of picture-book tie-ins as some of the more popular holidays, it is refreshing to find such a beautiful book for this oft-forgotten day of the year. Brownie Groundhog wakes herself on the second of February only to find to her chagrin that she can see her shadow. Yet these gloomy thoughts are soon forgotten when a hungry fox makes it clear that Brownie will be his next meal. As in any good, old-fashioned trickster tale, Brownie cleverly and consistently delays the fox, putting off his incipient noshing and sneakily tying him to a tree with her bright red scarf. A charitable soul, Brownie shares her cocoa and cinnamon toast, and the two make plans to meet again the next day—with something yummy to share. Spanish illustrator Segovia's acrylic paints and inks elevate the simple-seeming story, truly driving home the bone-penetrating chill of a typical February day. Blackaby is as tricky as her heroine, economically developing two distinct and likable characters and delivering plenty of chuckles and wordplay. Elegant. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Flap copy explains that Blackaby (Nest, Nook, and Cranny) was asked to write a tale to go with artwork that Segovia (The China Doll) had already created. Despite the story's out-of-sequence construction, it flows naturally. Segovia's paintings of snowy landscapes are heavily shaded and sculpted, and accented with quiet reds and blues; they evoke the two-color classics of the mid%E2%80%9320th century. Brownie the groundhog is waiting for spring; she meets a fox who is waiting for his next meal, and Brownie holds him off from eating her with some skillful talking. Fortunately, the fox is far from threatening. ""I want to eat you now. No more waiting,"" he moans after he's worked up an appetite while ice-skating with her. ""I know just how you feel,"" Brownie replies sympathetically. She ties him up with a scarf, then, when he howls, offers him a snack (but keeps him tied up a bit longer). ""No snapping,"" she says, feeding him. For a book about predator and prey, the book moves at a surprisingly slow, comforting pace, making it a promising bedtime selection for younger children, who will enjoy Brownie's mastery of the situation. Ages 3%E2%80%93up. (Jan.)