FICTION

Hippos Are Huge!

by Jonathan LONDON
Hippos Are Huge! illus. by Matthew Trueman. 32p. index. Candlewick. Mar. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763665920. LC 2014944797.
COPY ISBN
RedReviewStarPreS-Gr 2—With gorgeous mixed-media illustrations and accessible, engaging language, this picture book will spur interest in the world of hippos. Trueman's vivid images take advantage of every inch of available space to convey the size of these creatures, and the "Isn't this cool?" tone of London's text keeps readers hooked. Two types of text appear on each page: larger print encompasses the main narrative full of fascinating facts (ideal for reading aloud), while smaller print presents drier statistics and additional facts of interest. With a focus on high-interest details—such as a spread featuring two bull hippos flinging dung at each other in warning—this title stands out.
VERDICT A solid nonfiction read-aloud.
Reviewed by Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD
In fresh, interesting descriptions, London emphasizes just how dangerous these massive animals can be--a sequence of hippopotamuses in fights involves their gross-out poop-flinging skills--and contrasts this aggression with the care shown by hippo mothers as they raise their babies. Trueman effectively captures the animal's essence: every part of the hippo bodies, from their giant teeth to their sturdy legs, are massive. Ind.
, Feb 01, 2015

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