About the Holiday

As Spring really takes hold and gets ready to pass the seasonal baton to summer, today’s holiday encourages people to get into the garden or grab a pot and plant whatever makes you happy, whether that’s veggies, herbs, berries, flowers, or maybe even just a small cactus for your windowsill. Taking care of and watching plants grow and produce food or flowers is a fun and rewarding experience for the whole family!

Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog: The Terrifying Turnip Takeover! (Volume 2)

Written by Lydia Lukidis | Illustrated by Tara J. Hannon

When Lord Turnip, the leader of planet Jupi-TURD lands his gigantic, very purple, turnip-shaped spaceship on the Island of Zoo York’s Critter Park and tells the citizens of Critter Creek that he plans on taking over the world, Groucho, a “grumpy, lazy, and sarcastic” groundhog has just one thing to say: “I don’t care!” He has a full day of eating pancakes and reading comics planned and nothing his self-proclaimed bestie, half-pig, half-unicorn Blork can do to change his mind.

When the “WAYOOOOO WAYEEEE,” of the landing turnip interrupts Groucho’s TV watching, though, he heads out to complain. They learn that Lord Turnip has arrived in Critter Creek bent on using his Slime-a-tron 3000 to slime everything in town, turning it all into poop fertilizer to mix with the soil and create an enormous turnip farm to feed the citizens of Jupi-TURD, which has dried up after 50 years of no rain. Not only are the denizens of Critter Creek going to lose their homes, Lord Turnip is going to use his Heinous Hypnotizer to turn them all into zombie farmers.

Groucho isn’t a natural superhero, though. Instead, as Lord Turnip begins putting his plan into action, Groucho, with a worried Blork in tow, returns home to get back to more important things—namely, pancakes and his fave TV show, “Pancakes with Pam.” When Lord Turnip slimes Groucho’s house, however, Groucho and Blork speed to adjoining Carrot County and Commander Hare E. Bun Bun’s evil lair to enlist help.

After the Commander’s Carrot of Chaos fails to destroy the turnip spacecraft and a fierce “Uh-huh! Nuh-uh! Uh-huh! Nuh-uh!” battle of (nit) wits over whether the Commander or Lord Turnip coined the evil laugh “MWAHAHAHA,” Lord Turnip hypnotizes the Commander so he speaks only in rhyme and turns his sidekick Ding Dong into a monkey. Things are looking pretty hopeless in Critter Creek! Can Groucho find a way to give Lord Turnip a taste of his own medicine? Can the Commander and Ding Dong help Critter Creek return to its pre-slimed glory? Turn-ip at your favorite bookstore to find out!

Versatile author Lydia Lukidis channels her talent for humor in Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog: The Terrifying Turnip Takeover, the second book in her new graphic novel series. Leading off with profiles of the main characters that will have kids giggling from the get-go, this dastardly plot unfurls with goofiness, plenty of clever wordplay, a touch of potty humor, and lots of MWAHAHAHAs for readers to join in on. At the story’s heart, are themes of friendship and cooperation as cantankerous Groucho and cheerful-yet-comically-clueless Blork work together to defeat Lord Turnip, even teaming up with their one-time nemesis Commander Hare E. Bun Bun. Lukidis’s fast-paced storytelling is full of action and adventure that kids will have on repeat.

Tara J. Hannon’s vivid, action-packed illustrations maximize all the silliness in this other-worldly story, from Groucho’s grumpy side to Blork’s endearing innocence to all the slimy destruction of Lord Turnip’s visit to Critter Creek. Each panel advances the story with funny imagery, exaggerated facial expressions, signs, sound effects, and other details tucked away to delight readers.

Ages 6 – 8

Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2026 | ISBN 979-8881605612

If you haven’t read the first book in this hilarious series, check out Groucho the Grouchy Hedgehog and catch up on all the fun!

When Groucho and Blork learn that the evil Commander Hare E. Bun Bun has stolen all of the pancakes of Critter Creek, along with the secret recipe, Groucho and Blork dash to save the day and become an unlikely pair of crime fighters!

About the Author

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024) and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and Cybils Award nominee. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. For more information, please visit lydialukidis.com.

About the Illustrator

Tara J. Hannon lives in a house on a hill near the Chesapeake Bay. She writes and illustrates from her home studio, alongside her husband, two daughters, and one overly excited dog. When not creating, she can be found enjoying the bay with her family, jogging at a slow and friendly pace, or drinking coffee. Visit her at tarajhannon.com.

Plant Something Day Activity

Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog Activity Guide

Kids will love spending time in Critter Creek with the incomparable Groucho, Blork, Hare E. Bun Bun and the rest of the gang with this Activity Guide full of character cards, puzzles, coloring pages, drawing pages, discussion questions, and more that are perfect for teachers, families, and all Groucho fans! You’ll find the Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog Activity Guide on Lydia Lukidis’s website!

You can purchase Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog: The Terrifying Turnip Takeover! from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review