All Richmond Public Library locations will be closed February 17th for Presidents' Day.

Hooray for Hippopotamuses!: Children’s Books to Celebrate Poppy the Pygmy

Posted about 2 weeks ago by Sarah Fenninger
 0
 57

Image from Richmond Metro Zoo

Probably like many of you, here at Richmond Public Library we can not get enough of Richmond Metro Zoo’s newest baby: Poppy the Pygmy Hippo! (Did you know there’s a live Poppy cam you can watch to see what she’s up to? Yeah, no, we definitely haven’t been watching nonstop…) She’s tiny, round, silly, and sassy. What’s not to love? As with most things, we love celebrating good and happy news with books! As such, we’ve compiled a list of children’s picture books featuring the animal of the hour: HIPPOS.

Fiona Helps A Friend by Richard Cowdrey

When a kookaburra named Matilda feels down, Fiona the hippo and the other zoo animals dress up to cheer her up.


Hello, Hippo! Goodbye, Bird! by Kristyn Crow

A hilarious picture book about a grumpy hippo, a persistent bird, and a delightful friendship!


The Hippo Hop by Christine Loomis

A rhyming look at how the jungle animals party all night at the Hippo Hop.


Hippo! No, Rhino by Jeff Newman

When the zookeeper puts up the wrong sign outside the rhinoceros’s cage, poor rhino is repeatedly mistaken for a hippopotamus! Children will delight in identifying the mistake and will sympathize with the helpless rhinoceros. This hilarious and almost wordless story is told in charming and humorous illustrations and dialogue.


Herbert On The Slide by Rilla Alexander

What’s the best part of going to the playground? Is it that fluttery feeling at the top of the slide? Sliding down full speed ahead? Or is it climbing back up to go down all over again? Find out with Herbert the hippo!


Oh, Daddy! by Bob Shea

 A young hippopotamus shows his father the right way to do things, such as getting dressed, watering the flowers, and especially giving big hugs.


You’re Wearing That To School?! by Lynn Plourde

A cautious mouse named Tiny gives advice to his best friend, an exuberant hippopotamus named Penelope, on such things as what to wear and what to take for show-and-tell on the first day of school.


Hippos Remain Calm by Sandra Boynton

Hippos have a reputation for wild parties that go on till dawn. Nobody knows how these rumors got started. But even if it’s true (it is), it’s not the whole story. Given the deep appreciation that hippos have for water, it’s no wonder that your average hippopotamus seeks, finds, and offers a state of flow, no matter the situation. Accordingly, this helpful book follows two typical hippos as they calmly and mindfully go about their ordinary hippo day.


Hanna’s Cold Winter by Trish Marx

A child tells how her family and other people in Budapest help save the famous hippopotamuses in their city’s zoo from starving one difficult winter during World War II. Based on a true story.

Zoo Zen by Kristen Fischer

Lyla learns yoga poses and gets some tips from the animals at the zoo as she observes one bear, two snakes, and more. Includes step-by-step instructions for doing each pose.


1, 2, 3 To The Zoo: A Counting Book by Eric Carle

Each car on the train has one more zoo animal than the one before, from the first car with an elephant to the last with ten birds.


Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake.


1 Zany Zoo by Lori Degman

When one fearless fox grabs the zookeeper’s keys and opens all the cages, increasing numbers of animals behave in most unusual ways.

Happy reading!

Sarah Fenninger

Sarah Fenninger is a lifelong book worm and library lover, and an enthusiastic appreciator of puns, creative outlets, silliness, and FUN. She considers herself lucky to be able to combine these things into a youth library associate role with Richmond Public Library. Sarah loves interactive children's books and singing songs that promote motor development and movement. When she's not at work preparing crafts or reading silly books about dinosaurs in underwear, Sarah can be found at one of Richmond's many local parks/trails and spending time with family, including her husband, daughter, dog, cat, and two chickens.

Recent Posts

Categories

Write Your Comment