How to Be a Happy Hippo [Paperback]

Jonathan Shipton (Author), Sally Percy (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Horace Hippo has everything a hippo could want or need - well almost everything... Horace's dad is a very busy hippo, and Horace never gets to see him. So when Horace's dad promises to play with him one day, Horace waits all day and night. Finally having become fed up waiting, Horace digs a hole, covers it with grass, and traps his father as he walks out in the morning. Horace's dad takes it all with good humor and the two then spend the entire day together!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Winsome Horace lies in the middle of a fine mud puddle, a banana peel on his stomach, a small red bird perched alertly on his foot, but he isn't "a happy hippo. There was something missing from his life." What Horace wants most of all is a "nice long wallow with his big round dad," but Mr. Hippo always seems to have "someone to see or somewhere to go." When his father finally promises Horace a romp, the hopeful hippo waits patiently all night. He is so fed up at being stood up, he digs a hole, covers it with grass and literally traps his father in the morning. Fortunately, Mr. Hippo reacts to the ambush with plenty of big hippo laughter, and by book's end, father and son are both eager for the next day when they can play together again. The plot holds no surprises, and Mr. Hippo's transformation into a stay-at-home Dad may be rather unconvincing, but Percy's sympathetic and humorous depiction of the hippo clan is a mud-filled watercolor delight. Ages 3-7. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

...Percy's sympathetic and humorous depiction of the hippo clan is a mud-filled watercolor delight. -- Publishers Weekly; November 15, 1999

For the child of a workaholic dad, this may be a great book for father and son to share and learn from together. -- Today's Librarian, July 1999

Percy’s sympathetic and humorous depiction of the hippo clan is a mud-filled watercolor delight. -- Publishers Weekly; November 15, 1999

Preschoolers will enjoy following Horace on his antics, as well as delight in the pictures and the book’s happy ending. -- Today’s Librarian, July 1999

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tiger Tales (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589253574
• ISBN-13: 978-1589253575
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,300,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent lesson for all of us busy parents, October 2, 2000

By 

Patricia Acord (Avon, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Be a Happy Hippo (Hardcover)

I recently purchased this book for my daughter. She enjoys the illustrations and I particularly enjoyed the story line. The story is about a young hippo who longs for the attention of his very busy father. It reminds us that a child needs more than toys, food and an abundance of activities -- or in the hippo's case, "mountains of food, lots of things to play with and plenty of mud". They need the attention of their parents, and in this story, especially the attention of dad. This adorably illustrated story goes through the creative ways a growing hippo tries to "capture" his busy father's attention and the wonderful time they had when he finally succeeded. This is a nice addition to our large library of story books, one both myself and my daughter enjoy.