Mouse and Hippo - Hardcover

Twohy, Mike

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1481451243 ISBN 13: 9781481451246

Publisher: A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books, 2017

Synopsis

“Entertaining…A storytime hit.” —School Library Journal
“Young listeners will be pleased to make the acquaintance of these two cheerful creatures and, quite possibly, inspired to view the world in engaging new ways.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Though they see the world differently and are such physical opposites…their open acceptance of each other’s point of view shows they share the most important quality needed for meaningful connection.” —The Horn Book

Mouse creates a painting for his new friend Hippo—and Hippo returns the kindness in an unlikely way—in this delightful story about doing your best to make a friend happy!

Mouse offers to paint a portrait of his new friend Hippo, but Hippo doesn’t quite fit on Mouse’s canvas. Still Hippo is delighted. In return, Hippo returns the favor for his new friend in the best way he knows how. In a surprising story sure to cause giggles, picture book readers will ask for this book over and over again!

About this title

About the Author

Mike Twohy is a Geisel Honor Award–winning author and illustrator of several books for children, including Poindexter Makes a Friend, Outfoxed about which The Horn Book said, “story time audiences will howl with laughter,” Wake Up, Rupert!, and Mouse and Hippo, which the School Library Journal called “a story time hit.”  He has been a longtime contributor of cartoons to The New Yorker. He lives with his wife, cats, and yellow Lab in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—How does a mouse view a hippo? How does a hippo view a mouse? And, more important, can they be friends? This is an entertaining commentary on artistic perspective, but at heart, it's a comical story of friendship. Twohy uses India ink, watercolor, and felt pen to create cartoon depictions of a cheerful though slightly ratty-looking mouse and an equally jolly hippo. They meet unexpectedly when Mouse accidentally sets up his painting easel on Hippo's back. Extensive use of white space draws readers' attention to the action as the unlikely pair bond over a mishap and an appreciation of painting. The first-person dialogue is presented in two different fonts and colors to easily delineate which character is speaking. Similar to Claudia Rueda's Is It Big or Is It Little?, this offering showcases the concept of relative size but in a more plot-driven fashion. The action is straightforward and simple, but the subtle and humorous lesson in perspective makes this book suitable for school-age kids, too. VERDICT Cheerful characters will give this title shelf appeal and make it a storytime hit and a favorite for art teachers as well.—Lisa Taylor, Jacksonville Public Library, FL

Edition details

• Publisher: A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1481451243
• ISBN 13: 9781481451246
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Twohy Mike
• Number of pages: 32