But Not the Hippopotamus
By Barbara Schultz,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute rhyming book shows how to be a friend.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
At the beginning of Sandra Boynton's toddler book BUT NOT THE HIPPOPOTAMUS, a frog and a hog are happily dancing in a mud puddle (a "bog") while a lonely-looking hippo watches. Other pages similarly show rhyming animals doing activities together -- a cat and rats trying on hats, a moose and goose having juice, a bear and hare returning from the fair, etc. -- but the hippopotamus can only watch the other creatures pairing up and having fun. In the end, all of the animals notice the lonely hippo and "the lot of us" ask the hippopotamus to to join them. He (or she; it's not stated) hesitates, then joyfully agrees ... while a lonely armadillo looks on.
Is It Any Good?
Sandra Boynton's toddler books almost always make wonderful edutainment; this one, with its cute pictures and inclusive message, is especially nice. Children will love to join in the rhyming read-aloud fun while they receive an important message about asking new friends to play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about being a friend. How does the hippopotamus feel when he sees the other animals having fun? How does he feel when they invite him to play with them?
Who does the moose have juice with? What do the cat and rats try on? What's fun about rhyming words?
What did the bear and the hare get at the fair?
Book Details
- Author: Sandra Boynton
- Illustrator: Sandra Boynton
- Genre: Board
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Little Simon
- Publication date: November 30, 1982
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 2 - 5
- Number of pages: 14
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle, App
- Last updated: March 4, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate