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Children's Book
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Twin Lakes, a small town that was home to both people and wildlife, had just planned their first Groundhog Day celebration. They called it “Festival of the Shadow”. Now they needed a groundhog to be their Master Prognosticator. Will Tommy T. Foolery, young groundhog, be the next “Punxsutawney Phil” or will someone else win the job?
You will meet: Tommy and his twin sister Tawney, the Foolery Family, Tigger, Dain, Buster and more animals. There are also some nice people in the story too.
Follow along with Tommy
and Tawney in:
“Festival of the Shadow”
Introduction
“The second month, the second day,
We know is Groundhog's Holiday.
The keeper of the local zoo,
Photographers, reporters, too,
Anxiously await together
Woodchuck's forecast of the weather.
Each year this time he leaves his hearth,
His home beneath good Mother Earth.
He wiggles out to see the Sun
And sure enough - ask anyone-
Should he perchance his shadow see,
Back to his home again he'll flee.
And that sign's still the surest thing
Six weeks must pass before it's Spring!”
The village of Twin Lakes, a beautiful place to live or visit, lays nestled around the lakes in southern Wisconsin. There are always activities to do and friendly people to meet. During summer you can do all kinds of water sports, go hiking or biking, camping whatever you like to do. In winter there is ice fishing, snowmobiling and skiing. When you get hungry or need to relax there are plenty of places to eat and enjoy with friends.
The people of Twin Lakes shared their village with some marvelous wild life. There are deer, badgers, red foxes, squirrels, groundhogs, raccoon, coyotes and many other species in the area. Truly the animal families outnumber the people. What is more, they were friendly and speak with musical voices. They live in holes that resemble the houses of the “two foots,” as they call us humans. They have their own school and attend many of the activities in the village.
Groundhog Day is an interesting subject. The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day has its roots in the German celebration of Candlemas. They pass out free candles and have a pancake dinner to celebrate the middle of winter. This tradition started long before Groundhog Day in America. The Groundhog presents himself and makes his prediction at 7:25 AM each year. Groundhogs are also known as Woodchucks and Whistle Pigs. Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous groundhog in the world. He is rumored to be 130 years old. He is a Master Prognosticator, which means, he can predict or foretell according to present indications or signs. In Phil’s case he forecasts the weather. Groundhog Day celebrations are held all over the United States and Canada. Many other countries celebrate a similar holiday that predicts the coming of spring. One uses a bear and another believes if it rains on the celebration day it will stay rainy.
Our story starts in late summer. It is still warm and there are many visitors enjoying the warm weather and the water. One group of people is looking ahead to winter and more activities. The people in the town had asked for a new winter festival in February to celebrate Groundhog Day.