But Not the Hippopotamus

Nice rhymes and rhythms, but the plot normalizes leaving some kids out of fun times (a fat quiet hippo, a hardened yellow armadillo). The lessons seem to be (a) insert yourself where you haven't been invited, and (b) you don't need to be kind or make overtures or keep an eye out for the kids on the sidelines who may be intimidated to join in. A read-aloud with over-the-top histrionics might even encourage laughing at kids who have a history of being excluded and are upset by it. Yuck. There exist much better lessons on handling shyness and alienation and loneliness.

But Not the Hippopotamus is a rhyming story about a variety of animals doing things together while a presumably shy hippopotamus looks on before eventually joining in on the fun. I've quite enjoyed some of Boynton's books in the past, but this one didn't really do much for me. The rhyming and all the animals are fun aspects, but I feel like the story is a little lacking, like you'd have to really explain a lot to young readers about what's going on. On the other hand, it might be a good book for getting toddlers and preschoolers to practice empathy skills and try to think out on their own why the hippopotamus might not be joining in at first. Is she shy? Nervous? Scared? The illustrative style is typical Boynton, which is to say a bit show more cartoonish but still realistic enough to be recognizable. This isn't a favorite of mine, but it's not a bad offering in the board book world. show less

Sandra Boynton’s children’s books are new classics. I first discovered her delightful picture books via my sister-in-law, who had an entire shelf of Boynton’s books for my nephew. Now, with my own little boy, I’m really enjoying them. Her books all claim “serious silliness” on the back cover. I’d agree: we all enjoy the light-hearted silliness, but a child may still learn something. more detailed review on my blog

I loved reading this to my daughter when she was young, and read it again this year (2018) after reading the disappointing new sequel. Still love it! The combination of words and pictures is cute, charming and delightful.

Sandra Boynton tells a simple story about a hippopotamus who is too shy to join a group of animals in a number of activities. A hog and a frog dance while the hippopotamus watches from behind a tree. Two rats and a cat try on hats while hippopotamus watches from a distance through a window. Eventually, the hippopotamus is asked by a group of animals to join them. She then asks herself if she should stay or go. Finally, she decides to join them, but not the armadillo. This little story cleverly discusses the social realities every child must deal with over time. When should a child be independent, and when should she join the group? What will it take to overcome her fear of interacting with new people? Even though the hippopotamus show more eventually joins the group there will always be another animal to take her place. Now, it's the armadillo's turn to discover when he/she should join the group. show less

This was one of the first books I ever read as a child. To this day, hippos are my favorite animal. This is such a cute book and an easy read. The rhyme and pictures make it a fun book to read out loud. In addition, this book covers the topics of shyness, inclusion, and making friends. These topics are crucial for young children to grasp as their coming out of the "mine" and "no" stages. It is almost indirect, but children get it.

This book carries many of Boynton's trademarks, with its silly story told in rhyme and cartoon illustrations featuring her lovable animals. All the animals are racing and playing together ... but not the hippopotamus. Boynton is about the happy, though, so the hippopotamus overcomes his fear and joins the gang in the end. The story is cute, although it lacks Boynton's usual lyrical touch. The rhyme isn't bad, but it doesn't flow as smoothly as many of her other stories. The fun factor isn't as high, either, making this book rate low on my Boynton love list. A kudos to the clever joke for adults, though - "not the hippopotamus" because his name doesn't rhyme with any of the other animal names. A good book, but not up to her usual high show more standards. show less