I really love cover reveals…it always feels like an unveiling of a masterpiece at an art museum. So much talent and hard work and planning go into the creation of a cover for a book…and I’m THRILLED to be part of this celebration for author Lydia Lukidis and illustrator Tara Hannon for their upcoming graphic chapter book. So let’s lift the curtain and reveal this wonderful cover for…GROUCHO, THE GROUCHY GROUNDHOG! And let’s welcome Lydia and Tara!

LYDIA AND TARA: Thanks for having us on your blog, Vivian!

Tara and I are super excited to reveal the cover for upcoming early reader graphic novel that we started working on ages ago…GROUCHO THE GROUCHY GROUNDHOG!

What’s the graphic novel about?

Groucho and Blork can’t be more different. Groucho is a grumpy groundhog whose motto is “Go Away!” Blork is half unicorn, half pig, all smiles, and absolutely convinced she is Groucho’s bestie.

One day, Commander Hare E. Bun Bun steals all of the pancakes in Critter Creek! Now and the overly cheery Blork must work together to save breakfast…and lunch…and dinner! But will they succeed?

Is this book part of a series?

Yes! We got lucky because Andrews McMeel Publishing saw potential. The series name is Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog and the first book is titled The Pancake Panic!

Where did the idea of Groucho come together?

Here’s a nifty formula that sums it up:

Garfield + slapstick comedy + pancakes = Groucho!

When I was in fifth grade, I wrote for my school newspaper called Pizzazz. That’s when I created the first version of Groucho for a comic strip I named Squeak and Squeakette. Squeak was a grumpy mouse who just couldn’t get a break in life. My mom encouraged me to continue writing comics and go back to it once I started writing for children, but I didn’t feel enough confidence.

Until one day, the idea of Groucho wouldn’t leave my mind. I had to follow it. Over a few years, I started to build his character. I had applied to a big imprint through my agent but the concept was rejected. I took that criticism and improved the idea. Then I took a leap of faith and wrote the first version of a manuscript with Groucho. I had it critiqued and to my surprise, many people found it funny. They encouraged me to continue.

How did we get this graphic novel published?

I kept on editing and then one day…showed it to Tara (who is MUCH better at illustration than myself). I had met Tara when we worked on the picture book No Bears Allowed.

As destiny would have it, Tara loved the manuscript! She even agreed to potentially illustrate it. Out of the goodness of her heart and because she believed in the project, Tara made sample illustrations of all the characters and also created a few spreads, free of charge. Tara and I put together a submission package and sent it to our agents.

We played the waiting game for a while…and then…Andrews McMeel Publishing made an offer!!

When does GROUCHO THE GROUCHY GROUNDHOG release?

Hang on to your eats, folks, because it’s coming out on July 15^th, 2025! It will be followed by a second book in the series entitled The Terrifying Turnip Takeover. What will it be about? Turnips and aliens! Oh- and pancakes, of course!

And now without further delay, please enjoy this cover created by Tara!

Details

GROUCHO THE GROUCHY GROUNDHOG

For ages 6-8

Written by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Tara J. Hannon

Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Fueled by Pancakes

Links

Preorder: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Groucho-the-Grouchy-Groundhog/Lydia-Lukidis/Groucho-the-Grouchy-Groundhog/9781524898397

Websites:

http://www.lydialukidis.com/
https://www.tarajhannon.com/