Parents' Guide to

Hello Hello

By Jan Carr, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Intro to wildlife at risk celebrates animals of all stripes.

Book Brendan Wenzel Picture Book 2018
Hello Hello Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

HELLO HELLO begins with two cats saying hello. Turn the page, and the black cat greets a lineup of other black-and-white animals. Turn the page again, and a black-and-white fish swims onto a spread of brightly colored animals. The colorful newt at the end of that page moves on to say hello to animals with stripes and spots. And so it goes through the pages, as we encounter animals big and small, patterned, quiet and loud, and so on. At the end, two children smile at a ring-tailed lemur and give a thumbs up to a golden lion tamarin, and the text reads, "A world to see. A world to know. Where to begin? Hello Hello."

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

It's heartbreaking that kids today are born into a world where the animals they learn about are endangered, but this book's an enchanting introduction to the vibrant diversity of the animal kingdom. In the main pages of Hello Hello, author-illustrator Brendan Wenzel celebrates animals of all stripes -- ones from land, sea, and air -- with descriptive, rhythmic rhymes that call attention to animal characteristics. His art is bright and cheery and includes cut paper to indicate scales, stripes, quills, and feathers, giving the animals depth and texture.

Wenzel saves the more serious lessons for the back pages, though even there he's mindful of his young audience. The author's note states his message simply without talking down. And the names of the animals go far beyond the usual "lion, tiger, bear," to teach the real names of the species, for instance "veiled chameleon" and "three-stripe damselfish," communicating a deep respect for these wondrous but vulnerable creatures with whom we share the planet.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about all the animals in Hello Hello. What physical characteristics does the book call attention to? Can you think of other animals with those traits?

  • Did you know that some animals are in danger of dying out? What do those categories mean: Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered? What can people do to help animals survive?

  • Why do you think the author-illustrator always shows an animal moving from the last page to the next? Did you notice that when turning pages? Why do you think the animals say hello to each other?

Book Details

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.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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