Doctoroo! & the Case of the Hacking Hippo

by Rachel B. Wellner

Dr. Marsha Roo and her crew are living in Australia teaching healthy habits to the other animals in their town. But she turns into Doctoroo! to help solve mysteries all over the world! In this book, Dr. Marsha and her friends help Hilda the Hippo, a famous Opera singer, find out why she is so sick. Will they solve the mystery and help Hilda get better before the Queen of England arrives to watch Hilda perform? Find out in this book along with germ fighting tips!

39 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2021

About the author

Dr. Rachel Wellner is a Board-Certified general surgeon, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and Society of Surgical Oncology-trained breast oncology surgeon. In addition to her MD and surgical training, Dr. Wellner earned a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University, reflecting her interest in global health. Most recently, she founded a start-up called Caelum Diagnostic Solutions, Inc. with the goal to identify cancer edges intraoperatively. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Montefiore-Einstein Center for Care.

She has also been Director of Breast Services at NYEE/Continuum Cancer Center, Pascal Valley Hospital, and Palisades General Hospital. Dr. Wellner graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College, earned her medical degree from the University of Connecticut and her Master's degree in Public Health from Columbia University. She pursued her surgical training at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine and worked to establish clinical rotations in underserved regions of Nicaragua, Guatemala, India, and The Dominican Republic. She has been featured as a guest expert on several local and national news networks, including WPLX 11, Fox and Friends, and CNN.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctoroo! & the Case of the Hacking Hippo is Volume 2 in A 1-MD-Pouch Mystery series. The story revolves around Doctor Marsha, who is trying to uncover the reason behind Hilda the Hippo’s sickness. Hilda wants to be healthy when she performs for the Queen at the Sydney Opera House. Will Doctor Marsha figure out the source of Hilda’s ailment and cure her in time for the performance?

Dr. Rachel B. Wellner M.D. does a fantastic job of teaching young children about germs and hygiene in easy-to-understand terms. The story is presented in a fun and entertaining way with wonderfully appropriate text and attention-grabbing colorful illustrations that will appeal to young children. The style of pictures complements and enhances the text. The author also includes a bit of history about the Opera House and the Symphony Orchestra.

Doctoroo! & the Case of the Hacking Hippo is an engaging book and an excellent resource for educating young children. They learn about ways germs can spread and the importance of good hygiene habits to help prevent them and stay healthy.

[Alisha Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctoroo & The Case of the Hacking Hippo is such a fun and colorful book. It has a positive message about the importance of good hygiene to stay healthy that is easy for kindergarten to first grade children to understand. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for that little something to help explain how to stay healthier through hygiene.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctoroo and her friend Kirby with the help of some of their friends try to find out what is making Hilda Hippo sick.
PROS:
Very good illustrations, Kirby throws some interesting facts in as they try to find the source of Hilda's illness.
CONS: The story, while it has an excellent message, is kind of choppy.

[Anneliese Grassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctor Marsha is on the hunt to find out why Hilda the Hippo, the famous opera singer, is sick and not getting any better. They visit the opera house and play detective to find out what could possibly be the culprit.

This is a very cute book that helps explain the importance of being clean and washing your hands to avoid the spread of germs. It is geared towards preschoolers and you elementary aged kids, but I know a few adults that could stand to read this too. The pictures are amazing and very well done to match the story.

[Abhinav Bhatnagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hygiene Heroes

"Hacking Hippo" by Dr. Rachel Wellner is a delightful children's book that cleverly combines education with entertainment. Dr Marsha Roo, affectionately known as Doctoroo, and her diverse team of animal friends embark on a journey to the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia. Their mission? To unravel the mystery behind the famous opera singer, Hilda Hippo's troublesome cough.
The author expertly introduces young readers to the world of germs and hygiene through the lovable characters in this story. As Hilda Hippo's cough disrupts her performance for a very important person, Doctoroo and her friends dive headfirst into the case. The narrative unfolds with charm and wit, as the characters ponder various causes for Hilda's ailment, from mold spores to skunk spray. However, it's Doctoroo's realization that "germs, odious germs" are to blame that sets the stage for a valuable lesson in staying healthy.
What sets "Hacking Hippo" apart are the vibrant and heartwarming illustrations by Irina Drigova, bringing the story to life in a vivid, engaging manner. The tale not only entertains but also educates, seamlessly weaving important concepts into the narrative. The book encourages children to embrace good hygiene practices while introducing them to new vocabulary words and concepts in a fun and organic way.
Dr. Wellner's storytelling skillfully combines cuteness with information, shedding light on the mystery of Hilda's cough, all while teaching children about the crucial role germs play in our lives. With its perfect balance of entertainment and education, "Hacking Hippo" makes for an ideal addition to any child's bookshelf, offering both a valuable bedtime read and an effective tool for making hygiene lessons fun and memorable. If you're in search of an engaging way to teach your child about the importance of staying healthy, look no further than this captivating adventure.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a nice book with a cute storyline and colorful illustrations that is sure to delight the preschool and kindergarten set for which it is intended. There is plenty of positive messaging about the importance of hand washing and other hygenic habits that can always stand to be reinforced for young children. I also enjoyed the purple font, which was large and clear enough for emerging readers to handle easily, while adding an extra touch of color.

Another bonus is that, while trying to find the cause of a mysterious illness, once character provides some nice educational content about the Sydney Opera House. I appreciate this non-medical knowledge being shared with children along with the "healthy habits" storyline.

I did have a couple of issues with the book. Two female characters are drawn with considerable "endowments" that animals DO NOT have. This adds nothing to the story, or to the art. It's obvious they are female from the names and clothes, and I thought this extra detail was unnecessary for a children's book.

Also, a bit of tighter editing would have been nice. Simple things like including a ? at the end of a question statement, and correct capitalization when using quotations should have been caught by any copy editor.

All in all, I'm going with 4 stars because of the quality educational content and the fact that my daughter enjoyed the book when I read it to her. (P.S. We had a nice discussion about the Sydney Opera House afterwards!)

[Laurie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctoroo & the Case of the Hacking Hippo by Dr. Rachel Wellner is an adorable tale of animals solving problems when one becomes ill. A simple story with the main character Hilda Hippo becomes ill while singing on stage. She begins coughing and cannot continue without hacking. Her Dr. and friends are in the audience and want to get to the bottom of why she is ill. They check out all the usual sources of mold and drool and spray from other animals. They find the answer is just regular germs. Germs from shaking hands with her fans and friends. The Dr. shares a comparison of how the germs spread. Hilda now remembers to wash her hands after greeting fans and does not touch her lips and face. An adorable book I purchased for my grandson's school. Easy, short, and gets the point across with them sharing and learning from each other.

[Shawnae Aiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctoroo & the Case of the Hacking Hippo, written by Rachel Wellner is an adorable way to teach children about germs. I was teaching 2nd grade during the pandemic and we were in class. I would have definitely used this book to teach my kids about how germs spread and make us sick. The illustrations are beautifully done and vibrant. I loved the scene with Hippo and Giraffe they just melted my heart. I’d recommend this book for kids aged 3 to 8 years old. Loved it.

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilda Hippo, the famous opera singer, has invited Dr. Marsha Roo and her friends to a concert at the Sydney Opera House. They are enjoying the performance when Hilda Hippo starts to cough. Luckily with Doctoroo in the audience, she has quick medical advice. Hilda has been feeling poorly for some time. She has days when she feels well and days when she is really sick. Why does Hilda's mud bath make Terence Toad feel hungry? Which of the animals falls asleep before the performance starts? Moreover, what is making Hilda Hippo ill, and will Dr. Marsha Roo be able to cure her? Read Doctoroo & the Case of the Hacking Hippo by Dr. Rachel Wellner to discover the answers to these questions and many more.

Doctoroo! & the Case of the Hacking Hippo is filled with exciting things for young children to learn about. From how long it took to build the Sydney Opera House to how mold can make you ill. Some of the book is written in rhyme which is a lovely way to introduce young children to poetry. I particularly loved the illustrations, which are bright and fun and will help children follow the story. The animals are all wearing clothes but still look like wild animals would look; this introduces another area of learning, and children will enjoy talking about the characters. Some of the pictures will make small children laugh, especially one of the nasty germs having a party.

I liked everything about Doctoroo! & the Case of the Hacking Hippo. The story is easy to follow but very educational and will be a fun way for young children to learn. The book was well-edited, with no errors in spelling or grammar.

I recommend Doctoroo! & the Case of the Hacking Hippo by Dr. Rachel Wellner to parents and teachers of young children. This is a book that grown-ups will enjoy reading to younger children, and school-age children up to eight years will enjoy reading by themselves. There are lots of opportunities within the book to enhance learning.

I rate Doctoroo! & the Case of the Hacking Hippo by Dr. Rachel Wellner a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. It is a delightful and engaging book that children will learn from while having fun. The illustrations are fantastic and enhance the reading experience!


I want to thank Rachel Wellner for a copy Doctoroo and the case of the Hacking Hippo in exchange for my honest and impartial review.

You can see more of my reviews on my blog https://redmakesmyheartsing.blogspot.com or here http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-...

[Pat Fayo Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic health challenge of being sick and the why gets addressed in a manner that is easily understood. Excellent resource for teachers about hygiene health and spreading germs. Excellent resource for toddlers, preschool through early grades. Hilda Hippo is sick and the book uses process of elimination to find out why. Great idea for children! The book uses text that is easily understood and appealing to children, while using a positive message how children can help each other stay healthy!