Hooray for Hippos

I can still remember a few songs that I learned in my weekly music class as an elementary school student. “The Cat Came Back” is one. “I Can’t Spell Hippopotamus” is another.

I can spell mat

M-A-T

But I can’t spell hippopotamus!

Hippos lend themselves easily to comical children’s books, particularly if they involve dancing. If animal storytimes are popular with your group, but you want to go beyond the usual dog/cat/farm animals storytime, consider tying these books into a hippopotamus theme:

All the jungle animals are gathering for the Hippo Hop. Elephants play the slide trombone, and an all-girl band of blue baboons plays along. Everybody dances their heads off until it’s time to go home. If you like books like The Big Bear Ball, you’ll enjoy The Hippo Hop.

If The Hippo Hop isn’t too much of a tongue twister, reading The Happy Hippopotamiwill definitely keep the words tripping over your tongue.  Our hippo friends are enjoying the beach, from hippopotapoppas buying popsicles for the kids to hippopotapilots gliding about when hippos explode into sneezes.  Lots of silly action and rhyme will entertain the parents/caregivers as much as the children.

There’s a Hippo in My Bathis a wild story about the adventures of a young child’s bath.  A turtle and various other animals seemingly pop out of nowhere to join the fun.  A sudden bubble burst startles a gun-shy hippo. Everyone has a splendid time until the door handle begins to rattle–the boy’s mother is about to open the door! Crazy hijinks will make this one of the hits of your hippo storytime.

Books Mentioned:

Loomis, Christine.  The Hippo Hop.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1995.

Martin, Bill.  The Happy Hippopotami.  San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1970. 

Matsuoka, Kyoko.  There’s a Hippo in My Bath!  New York: Doubleday, 1989.