The Happy Hippopotami [Paperback]

Bill Martin Jr (Author), Betsy Everitt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Voyager/Hbj Book

Climb aboard the picnic buses for a happy hippoholiday! This lively rhyming story of a seaside romp where hippopotamamas, papas, sons, and daughters are soaking up the sun, strolling along the boardwalk, and dancing around the maypole makes a perfect read-aloud. “Seeming to spill off the pages with their jollity, Everitt’s spirited illustrations are sure to endear these playful creatures to kids--who will have as much fun as the hippos do.”--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Martin ( Chicka Chicka Boom Boom ) and Everitt ( Frida the Wondercat ) introduce some hippos who just wanna have fun, and they certainly have precisely that on their "hippoholiday" at the beach. Playful rhymed couplets describe how the hippopotami spend their day. Some lie on the sand in gaily colored bathing suits: "Like a stretch of granite boulders / Except, of course, for sunburned shoulders." While "hippopotamamas" give their children snacks and "hippopotapoppas" visit the "candy shoppas," "hippopotadaughters" swim and "hippopotasons" squirt water guns. Most lovable of all are the "hippopotapooses": hippo toddlers who stuff their pockets with jelly "sandywiches." Seeming to spill off the pages in their jollity, Everitt's spirited illustrations are sure to endear these playful creatures to kids--who will have as much fun as the hippos do. Ages 4-8. ( Apr.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- A herd of happy hippopotamamas, hippopotapoppas, and hippopotapooses board picnic buses and set off for the beach in this rollicking tale. The rhyming text banks on children's appreciation of silly-sounding words, but the humor is strictly of the one-trick-pony variety. The wordplay becomes numbing and the rhyme forced, as page after page of big-lipped hippos lumber by, eating poppasicles, playing steel guitars, and vying for hippopotaprizes. Like cotton candy, the illustrations and text are fluffy and appealing, but lack substance. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (February 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152333827
• ISBN-13: 978-0152333829
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 11 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bill Martin Jr, an elementary-school principal, teacher, writer, and poet, held a doctoral degree in early childhood education. His many books, among them the bestselling classics Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?; and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, are a testament to his ability to speak directly to children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We LOVE this book!!, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Happy Hippopotami (Hardcover)

This is a great book to read to antsy kids. My child not only istened, but got very involved with the characters, soon WE were a hippopota-family! Who can resist saying, "Hippopotamama"? The text flows beautifully and the illustrations are playful and just perfect for this tale! If you loved the Happy Hippopotomi, then I wholeheartedly recommend, "The Maestro Plays" also by Bill Martin, Jr.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun for reading with your children, January 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Happy Hippopotami (Paperback)

You will really enjoy reading this book to your children. The invented words involving hippo are a fun, poetic learning experience for the listener and the reader. We laughed all the way through and the more you read it the better you get at it. Pretty soon you'll all be singing it around the house. Your child will have this one memorized in no time!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for kids!, March 18, 2002

By 

"tracysmith74" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Happy Hippopotami (Paperback)

We got lucky and happened to check this out from the library, but then we had to buy it! My daughter loves all the silly rhymes, plus the bright colors of the illustrations. She never gets tired of reading it!