Hot Hippo - Hardcover

Mwenye Hadithi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340381957 ISBN 13: 9780340381953

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books, 1986

Synopsis

A tale of the hippopotamus who attempts to find his own place in the cool water ponds of the African plain

About this title

About the Author:

Author: Mwenye Hadithi was born in Nairobi in a rambling brick and wood house surrounded by ten acres. His early life was full of animals. He attended London University, studying languages and foreign literature. When his first attempts at short stories and radio plays were sold immediately, he decided to be the next great African Writer.

Illustrator: Adrienne Kennaway moved from Kenya to London when she was 15 to study at the Ealing School of Art. Later she attended L'Academia de Belle Arte in Rome. It was on her return to Kenya that she began illustrating the picture books that have made her well known.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2 Short declarative sentences that have rhythm and cadence tell the story of Hippowho was hot! He asks permission of the god Ngai to cool himself in the rivers and streams, promising never ever to eat a fish. Ngai agrees, securing Hippo's agreement to live on the land at night and eat grass. The pages are ablaze with color and activityred and orange double-page spreads depict the unrelenting heat; these contrast with the soft blues and greens of the cool river. Animals meander and congregate; ants and birds cluster, while Hippo wanders off alone to seek Ngai's permission to swim. Beguiling Hippo is a lumpy, lumbering pachyderm who looks absolutely miserable as he seeks shade under a small cluster of fronds; bewildered as he leaps into the river, only to discover that he can't swim; and perfectly content as he opens his mouth to prove that he has kept his bargain: ``Look, Ngai! No fishes!'' A perfect pourquoi story that's bound to become a story hour staple, as well as a hot item for beginning readers. Trev Jones, ``School Library Journal''
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0340381957
• ISBN 13: 9780340381953
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 30
• Illustrator: Adrienne Kennaway