Hidden Hippo

by Joan Gannij, Clare Beaton (Illustrator)

Journey to the plains and rivers of Africa in search of a hidden hippo. Lots of different African animals are introduced throughout this rhyming, hide-and-seek adventure. Hardcover edition includes endnotes with information about conservation, endangered wildlife and facts about each of the animals featured in the book.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Juvenile, Africa

24 pages, Board Book

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Marie]

Those tricky hippos, hiding on each spread! Throughout the adventure of looking for a hippo, children will meet many other African animals. More information on these animals is provided in the end matter, in addition to information on endangered species and web addresses to learn more. The felt/fabric illustrations are very pleasing, as is the simple rhythm and rhyme.

[Seth]

The dik dik's were funny and it was a good book.

[Cloud]

10/10 best book. Would read again. LOL

We tried reading this book earlier to baby, and she was having none of it. I'll guess after a year or so it finally clicked and now it's one of her favorites. I'm a huge fan of hippos to start with, so this just made the book even more charming. It's a fun adventure of looking at other animals and I'm sure when she's older she'll enjoy pointing out the "hidden" hippo.

As a fun note, we must make a loud "SPLASH" sound when the hippo does show up. It's very important and baby will skip to and from that page just so we can say SPLASH a lot. She's also quite in love with the hippo family and likes pointing at all of them. Overall, I would highly recommend this book.

[Carmela Dutra]

Those pesky hippos, hiding on every page! Cute story filled with soft, unique illustrations. My toddler loves this book, every night before bed we read it. The the page with zebras is his favorite. The cardboard version makes it easy for small hands to flip the pages.

[Ruth Ann]

Fun to read "find the hippo" book for adult and child.

[Miss Sarah]

A preschool and up book where animals are all gathered in differnt places but no hippo's unless your really looking. cute and fun

[Diana]

The illustrations are very soft and appealing...I love when artists use fabric to create their illustrations! And, in this case, the illustrations are a huge chunk of the story, since that's where you find all the hidden hippos. You aren't told to look for them or even that you should have found them, and that's my biggest gripe about the story. As a group read-aloud, that poses a bit of a challenge, since I have to say it, anyway, which distracts from the flow of the story.

[Bethany]

My boys really like this book. I like it too. One really neat part is the "illustrations". Actually, the illustrator used fabric and beads instead of drawing it. The book isn't fabric though. It was done with fabric and then printed on regular paper.

[Tanika]

This book is great to use for Ell’s because it teaches the names of the animals one would see on an African safari. This book also has a section where it tells facts about every animal mentioned in the book.

[Susan]

I'm a big fan of Clare Beaton. I can't wait to take this home and read it with Lola!

Wasn't as big of a hit as I would have thought - oh well.

[The Library Lady]

This will be an excellent book to read with a child on your lap, marveling at Beaton's ever fabulous stitched picture art. But it's too detailed for a story hour. Pity...

[Zack]

I love love love the illustrations in this book. Of course the title kind of kills the surprise. I wonder how many kids will figure that one out.

[Sara]

Love the illustrations!

[Paula]

A great book for story time, wonderful illustrations made of felt, and could be used for older kids and the younger ones. It does have the added feature to find the hippo on the other pages.

[jacky]

Each page spread has some rhyming text and a hidden hippo to find. Not super exciting or unique, but still fun for at least one read.

[Sunnyvale Librarian]

This simple story makes a game of finding the hippo (or just parts of his body) in each picture. Supplemental information on each of the animals mentioned in the story is included.

[Dianna]

Our favorite hippo book so far!

[Lisa]

I love Barefoot Books!!