Review of "Gertie Saves the Day" by Karen Patricia Nespoli, Narrated by May Webster, Illustrated by Daniela Massironi

Paperback Score: 94/100 (9.4 out of 10)
Audiobook Score: 93/100 (9.3 out of 10)

Gertie Saves the Day is a fun, friendly, and uplifting children's book by Karen Patricia Nespoli! It is colorfully illustrated by Daniela Massironi.

The exciting new audiobook version is narrated by May Webster!

The book also serves a surprising educational functional. On a surface level reading, it teaches kids about courage, determination, and helping others. However, you could make the argument that, by teaching them the rich history behind Groundhog Day, the book actually sheds some light on cultural diversity and the many people who brought different traditions to the United States like the German migrants. Oh, yeah, you'll also learn a thing or two about the groundhogs themselves! Like, did you know that they're actually the largest members of the squirrel family? We didn't know that!

On that note, did you know that the Germans actually didn't use groundhogs for this ceremony in Europe? They used other rodents like hedgehogs instead. That's interesting!

Gertie Saves the Day follows the titular groundhog, Gertie, as she is excited about the approaching Groundhog Day tradition of February 2nd! Mainly, she daydreams about becoming the star groundhog attraction of the ceremony.

However, her teacher informs her (and the other groundhog students) that the honor isn't going to be given to just anyone. No, they have to compete for it!

Gertie, who doesn't see herself as the most talented or skilled of the bunch (in additon to being rather small), is still very determined to do her best and make her dreams a reality—a great message for kids!

She is opposed by her athletic and arrogant classmate, Jeff, who belittles her by calling her "Shortie." Serving as the closest thing to an antagonist in the book, Jeff goes into the competition with all the confidence in the world that he will emerge victorious.

However, both Jeff and Gertie are surprised by sudden changing circumstances. Jeff, who seemingly had unlimited confidence, was caught off guard and frozen stiff by the attention of so many people and cameras. Gertie, wanted to do the right thing and preserve the sanctity of the event, helps Jeff. Together, they work together to make the event extra special!

It's a great message for children to treat others the way they'd want to be treated because you never know when you'll be in a negative situation like that. It's also a reminder not to be selfish and to look at the bigger picture. If Gertie were a vindictive person, she could've let Jeff fail, effectively sabotaging the entire event for everyone or at least allowing it to flounder. Instead, Gertie did the unselfish thing. Because of that, she made a new friend and a new teammate while becoming a co-star in the ceremony she dreamed about!

The illustrations by Daniela Massironi, while relatively simple, are cute, appealing, and colorful. Massironi is effectively able to capture the emotions on the faces of characters; for example, we see the fear and exasperation on the faces of the groundhogs on page 25.

The narration by May Webster, who studies music at Trinity College of Music, is a solid debut effort by the young emerging star! While Webster's performance a bit more straight and subtle than Immy Dymott's in The Fisherman and the French Flounder, there are upsides to the subtlety. You don't always have to be over-the-top and hyped up when narrating. It helps with most children's books (since children love when you are energetic and animated), but that sometimes distracts from the story, characters, and message of a story. That's not the case with this story. Because Webster reads the story so straight and subtley, it's very easy to understand and follow her. Webster, being from London, also brings a beautiful British accent to the audiobook.

All in all, both the audiobook and paperback are a lot of fun!

Check them out on Amazon!