The Blushful Hippopotamus [Hardcover]

Chris Raschka (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Though Roosevelt the hippopotamus's sister teases him because he blushes a lot, his best friend helps him feel better about himself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The perfect antidote for anyone who's ever suffered the slings and arrows of an outrageous older sister, this may well be Raschka's (Yo! Yes?) best picture book yet. With what seem like a few effortless strokes of ink and watercolor and a quick scribble with an oil stick, the author/artist delivers Roosevelt, a winsome young hippopotamus who is tormented by his elder sibling at every opportunity. Fortunately for the hapless hippo, he has a most loyal friend in Lombard the duck, who counteracts the teasing with generous and creative accolades ("A skillful hippopotamus is what it is you are"). Roosevelt's sister, who looms so large in the beginning of the book that only her enormous nose and a portion of her torso fit on the page, recedes in proportion to Lombard's praise, until she's only a teeny caricature; Roosevelt, meanwhile, swells visibly with each boost to his ego, until it's he who fills the final page, sweeping Lombard up in a grateful embrace. Ah, the sweet balm of friendship?its magic works as admirably on these pages as it does in real life. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K?Young Roosevelt Hippopotamus has two problems. The first is an embarrassing tendency to blush, and the second is a loud-mouthed older sister who never misses a chance to point out his rosy cheeks. Luckily, Roosevelt has a best friend named Lombard, a rather silly looking bird who reassures him that he is not blushful; he is "hopeful," "mindful," "thoughtful," and "skillful." This simple story will comfort any child who's ever been teased unmercifully and delight those who demand poetic justice for taunting siblings. Raschka's art carries much of the message here. His facility with line creates an overbearing older sister on one page and a diminutive, hesitant Roosevelt opposite. Rough streaks and blotches of bright color add a lively texture to the figures while the background blushes from bright yellow behind the sister, to pink in back of Roosevelt. This color scheme indicates the power structure and reinforces the theme. Size and space also tell a story. On the first page Roosevelt's sister overwhelms the background and bursts off the left-hand page; as Roosevelt gains confidence, the roles of the two siblings are reversed and so are the color scheme and size of the characters. On the last page, Raschka makes minimal use of lines to show the two friends in a sunny embrace that, from a distance, resembles smiling faces. This warm finale should satisfy young children without preaching about the power of friendship.?Barbara Kiefer, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531095320
• ISBN-13: 978-0531095324
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,447,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roosevelt is a delightful Hippo!, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Blushful Hippopotamus (Hardcover)

Chris Raschka has written inspiring text that complements his freely drawn illustrations perfectly. Our young hippo hero, Roosevelt, has a sister that can make him feel so self-conscious that he blushes! Roosevelt's best friend, a bird named Lombard, helps Roosevelt see himself in a different light. This is a beautiful book with a beautiful message.