Hot Hippo by Mwenye Hadithi, Adrienne Kennaway, Adrienne Kennaway (Illustrator), Adrienne Kennaway (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Hippo was hot and thought how wonderful it would be to live in the water, so he walked and ran until he came to the mountain where Ngai lived. Hippo pleaded and eventually Ngai agreed—Hippo could live in the water, but only if he did not eat the fish and came onto the land at night.

Publishers Weekly

Warm-colored watercolors along with a starkly rhythmic text create an African atmosphere for this striking picture book. The same talented author/artist team that created Greedy Zebra! tells the tale of a hot hippo, who prefers to live in the water instead of on land. He turns to Ngai, god of Everything and Everywhere, but Ngai is inclined not to grant Hippo's wish, fearing he will eat all the fish (and bellowing, ``I love my little fishes!''). When Hippo promises not to, Ngai consents under the condition that Hippo `` . . . come out of the water at night and eat grass . . . '' The happy hippo runs back, jumps in the water and sinks. He only knows how to run along the bottom holding his breath, and to this day that is what he doessurfacing now and then to tell Ngai he still keeps his promise. One question remains unanswered. How happy is Hippo down there? (2-8)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 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''

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