Coming up is Hippo Day! A great day to celebrate in a library because -1. Hippos are in danger, and humans are their biggest enemy. So we need to know more about these 'water horses'.
2. Some of the best 'reads' for children feature hippos.
One of my all time favourite serial reads with a class is The Twentyseventh Annual African Hippopotamus Race by Morris Lurie. It is such fun and yet at the same time has so much to discuss with students. Can hippos really swim? What should Edward do about Sebastian? What makes Edward a good friend? a good grandchild? a good swimmer and competitor? What does 'gosh' really mean? Great to read before a sports day, swimming carnival, when you want to discuss bullying or even just hippos and Africa.
A wonderful pourquoi story, Hot Hippo by Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway explains for students why hippos don't actually swim, but spend a large part of their day in the water.
Another book that students love is Hippos are Huge! by Jonathan London and Matthew Trueman. This illustrated information book tells students about just how big and dangerous hippos are.
Hippos have even made it to the realm of 'true animal stories' since the December tsunami that swept baby hippo, Owen into the sea. Kenyan villagers worked to rescue Owen and he has now become best friend with Mzee, an elderly giant tortoise. Many books feature these two. See Owen and Mzee and its sequel by Isabella Hatkoff et al; A Mama for Owen by Marion Dane Bauer and Mama by Jeanette Winter.
Hippos can also be something that authors use for humour. Look at the popularity of the very long lasting series that started with There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake by Hazel Edwards and Deborah Niland. And more recently, Hippospotamus by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross, The Hippo-not-amus by Tony and Jan Payne and Hippobottymus by Steve Smallman and Ada Grey.
And maybe because hippos can be cantankerous they often feature in children's books about feelings and behaviour. See Greedy Grumpy Hippo; Big Bully Hippo; Hurty Feelings; and The Hippo who was Happy. For even more hippo books for your display, look at these.
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I will now have think of a way to celebrate Hippo day! I love to read Hippo on the roof eating cake to Kindy. I think I read it every year to every class for around 30 years so I can recite the whole book. I have my hippo toy from Ikea - he was one of the very first toys I ever purchased. Thanks for sharing another special library day!
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