Reviews for A Greyhound, a Groundhog

by Emily Jenkins

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Friendship blossoms between canine and rodent in this paean to the sheer joy of being alive. A greyhound and a groundhog are startled to meet, one waking from a nap and the other popping out of a burrow. Before long, however, they are frolicking together, romping about and running through meadows before finally collapsing in satisfied fatigue. Jenkins playful text (A round hound, a grey dog, a round little hound dog. / A greyhog, a ground dog, a hog little hound dog) has a catchy rhythm that begs to be read out loud. The text dances across the page, perfectly in sync with the watercolor pictures; on one page the line and a sound hovers beside the splash created by the greyhounds foot, its curvature visually echoing the arc of the water. By varying perspective and distance, Appelhans creates dynamic, high-energy illustrations that maintain interest despite featuring only two characters against a plain, minimalist background. Readers look down on the two friends from above as they spin in giddy circles and see them in comical close-up as a butterfly flits past. Groundhog bursts from the end of a hollow log, paws outstretched, about to soar above the heads of readers, who have a ground-level view of the action. This delightful story is a feast for the eyes and ears, and it will hold up well to repeated demands from eager young listeners. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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