Author’s Corner

Gertie Saves the Day: Book Review and Author Interview

Gertie Saves the Day

Karen Nespoli and I first connected through social media, and a couple of years ago, I finally had the wonderful opportunity to meet her in person at Miriam Laundry’s Believe Conference. I’m sharing her book, Gertie Saves the Day, because I truly love the message it sends to children. When I read it to my grandchildren, they cheered Gertie on and completely embraced the story’s ending, which made the experience even more special for all of us.e

Gertie Saves the Day
– Written by: Karen Patricia Nespoli
– Illustrated by: Daniela Massironi
– Published by: Miriam Laundry Publishing, 2021
– Age range: 3-12 years old
– Themes: Determination, friendship and competition

Short Summary

Gertie is determined to win the Groundhog Day Celebration Competition. Jeff may think that she is too short to win the competition, but Gertie is in it to win it! That’s when the fun gets started with more twists and turns than a pretzel.

Gertie Saves the Day is more than a book about Groundhog Day. It is a story that explores the excitement of a special event, the thrill of competition, disappointment, and friendship.

Why I Chose This Book

Gertie Saves the Day is a fun, heart-warming story packed with energy and surprises. Gertie is determined to win the Groundhog Day Celebration Competition—even when Jeff doubts her because of her size. What follows is a lively adventure filled with twists, turns, and plenty of excitement. Beyond the celebration itself, the story thoughtfully explores big feelings like competition, disappointment, and the importance of friendship

With its cheerful spirit and meaningful themes, this book is a delightful read that reminds young readers to believe in themselves and to enjoy the journey.

It’s a wonderful choice for story time, classroom sharing, a child’s library, and a bedtime story.

And now a short interview with author Karen Patricia Nespoli!

Welcome, Karen!

Thank you for stopping by to chat with us.

Behind the Story: Interview with Karen Nespoli

Q1: Tell us a little about Gertie Saves the Day.

Gertie Saves the Day is not just a book about Groundhog Day; it is a book about friendship, competition, disappointment, kindness and teamwork. The setting is a school where the groundhogs are learning about Groundhog Day. Gertie wants the honor of predicting early spring or 6 more weeks of winter, but Jeff declares he is going to win because she does not have a shadow. The competition begins, and so does the fun. Who wins? You will need to read the book!

Q2: What inspired you to write this story?

I guess you can say I am a “Groundhog Day Geek.” As a child, I loved the fact that if there were 6 more weeks of winter, there was a chance that I could get a snow day. A day to have fun building a snowman, sleigh rides and snowball fights.

As a teacher, I shared many books about Groundhog Day over the years. The main character seemed to always be a male groundhog. It was then that I decided I needed to write a book about a female groundhog, and Gertie was created.

Q3: How did you come to work with Daniela Massironi

When I was searching for an illustrator, I used an illustration agency. I searched through many portfolios before narrowing my search to Daniela. I was looking for an illustrator who could create cute characters and who was great with facial expressions. I could not be happier with the characters she created. Gertie is exactly as I imagined her.

Q4: What’s the best piece of feedback you ever received? How did it change your story?

I was blessed to have Sharon Jennings edit my story. Her advice was to add more activities to the groundhog challenge. Instead of a simple race, I added several challenges for the groundhogs to complete. That suggestion changed my story for the better. Turns out the cup stacking challenge has become a favorite with children.

Q5: What message do you hope children take away from this book?

Children who read Gertie Saves the Day learn powerful lessons about kindness, perseverance, good sportsmanship, and helping others, even when they’re unkind. The story teaches that even if you try your best and don’t win, your character shines through, and you can still become a hero by choosing to be kind.

Themes & Classroom Connections

Teachers and parents can use this book to discuss

Theme 1. Self-Belief

Theme 2. Resilience

Theme 3. Kindness

Some activity ideas include:

Activity idea #1- Weather Predictions

Students will enjoy making weather predictions. Will there be 6 more weeks of winter? Will spring come early? Ask them to explain why they think their prediction is correct.

Activity idea #2 – Shadows

If the weather permits, take your students outside and ask them to find their shadows. Have them stand in a sunny spot, then in a shady spot. Have them compare the two different experiences. Students can keep a notebook to record their observations. This works nicely with pairs of students.

Discussion question for students/children

What is the main idea of the story?
Can you tell me what happened in the order of the story?
Did something happen that changed the outcome of the story?
Did the character make a good choice? Why or why not?

Gertie Saves the Day is available on Amazon.

Other Books by Karen Patricia Nespoli:

Two Wins for Wiley

Wiley is his baseball team’s best hitter. With the play-offs around the corner, the pressure is on for Wiley to practice hard and play his best. But there’s one big problem. Wiley suffers from frequent stomach aches, and they’re only getting worse.

When his coach suggests that he try acupuncture, Wiley must make a difficult decision. He can either face his fear of needles and get better for the big game, or risk losing the play-offs as he watches from the sidelines.

Will Wiley conquer his fears and bring his team to victory?

Two Wins for Wiley is available on Amazon.

Gertie and Jeff’s Activity Book: Fun, Hands-On Activities and Coloring Pages Inspired by Gertie Saves the Day

Gertie and Jeff’s Activity Book: Fun, Hands-On Activities and Coloring Pages Inspired by Gertie Saves the Day

Gertie and Jeff’s Activity Book is designed to help kids learn through play—without pressure, screens, or perfection. Packed with engaging activities, this book supports early literacy, fine motor skills, and confidence in a way that feels fun and achievable.

Children will enjoy a variety of activities:

Coloring pages featuring Gertie and Jeff
Simple word and literacy activities
Drawing and creative prompts

Together, the storybook and activity book create a powerful literacy pair.

Gertie and Jeff’s Activity Book is available on Amazon.

About the Author

Karen Patricia Nespoli, Ed. D is an award-winning children’s book author. After spending 40+ years in education as a former elementary school teacher, literacy educator and literacy professor, she turned to her first passion – writing children’s books.

Karen has guided children in writing and illustrating stories. Now, through her books and website, she hopes to inspire, challenge and encourage children to grow as writers.

Connect with Karen
– Website: https://karennespoli.com
– Instagram//: @drkarenn
– Twitter : @drkarenn

Thank you, Karen, for sharing your story with us!

Gertie Saves the Day is a heartwarming, beautifully illustrated picture book that truly deserves a place in every child’s library. I hope you’ll check it out and share it with the young readers in your life.

Thank you to all of my readers for spending your time with us. If you enjoy the books featured here, I’d love your help in supporting these authors and their stories.

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