Hi from Storywraps. I just know you are going to love today's book so much. It's full of humour and wit and the illustrations are just magnanimous. The origin of the book is New Zealand and I am sure these two talented women have made their country proud when it comes to children's picture books not only at home but on the world stage as well. I am very, very impressed with this book!
Unwrapping...
"That's Not a Hippopotamus!
Authored by Juliette MacIver and Illustrated by Sarah Davis
Ages 3-5
Unwrapping some fabulous illustrations for you... I didn't know which ones to choose they were all amazing... :)
Just look at all the detail, action and expressions that these illustrations entail, not to mention the sense of adventure and fun they depict. The diversity of the little faces and excitement of the gang just draws you right into the narrative. They are amazing and could tell the story all on their own but thankfully the text enriches the illustrations even more, if that is even possible. The color palette in Sarah Davis's illustrations are a stylish addition to her repertoire.
About the story...
About the story...
This is a deft and delightful tale, packed with word play and madcap energy.
Julia Marshall, Publisher states:
"The clever rhymes are irresistible but the story has much more than that - there is real emotion here and the quiet child has a voice."
This new book from an award-winning and very popular author and illustrator is perfectly pitched and full of humour and excellent wordplay. As children read the book they are challenged to find the hippopotamus that is hidden in all of the pictures and identify with sweet Liam, the quiet little boy that no one seems to be aware of, or worst yet, ignored.
"I see him, Miss: He's super tall!
I'll fetch him in no time at all.
I got'im, Miss! I got'im, Miss!
I KNEW that I could spot'im, Miss!
THAT'S not a hippopotamus!
A class trip to the zoo turns into a hunting expedition for a devious and prank-playing hippo. The teacher, the zookeeper and an enthusiastic pack of pint-sized students charge here and there to capture that missing beast. The noise and drama reaches a crescendo as each child thinks they have bagged the prize... the missing hippo! Poor little Liam is left out, is way behind the pack, and unheard. Clever little Liam spots the trickster every time but no one will pay any attention his contribution. Will anyone stop the chaotic search and finally listen to him? Will Liam get acknowledged and rewarded when those around him realize he is a hippo-finding-hero?
"Well I never! Aren't you clever?
The greatest hippo-hunter EVER!" (says his astounded teacher.)
This delightful tale will bring smiles to your face and cheers to your lips! Kids will ask for it again and again just for the pure joy of joining in the hippo hunt. This book is a perfect addition to your own personal collection, for a classroom or a library. I highly, highly recommend this book.
"I see him, Miss: He's super tall!
I'll fetch him in no time at all.
I got'im, Miss! I got'im, Miss!
I KNEW that I could spot'im, Miss!
THAT'S not a hippopotamus!
A class trip to the zoo turns into a hunting expedition for a devious and prank-playing hippo. The teacher, the zookeeper and an enthusiastic pack of pint-sized students charge here and there to capture that missing beast. The noise and drama reaches a crescendo as each child thinks they have bagged the prize... the missing hippo! Poor little Liam is left out, is way behind the pack, and unheard. Clever little Liam spots the trickster every time but no one will pay any attention his contribution. Will anyone stop the chaotic search and finally listen to him? Will Liam get acknowledged and rewarded when those around him realize he is a hippo-finding-hero?
"Well I never! Aren't you clever?
The greatest hippo-hunter EVER!" (says his astounded teacher.)
This delightful tale will bring smiles to your face and cheers to your lips! Kids will ask for it again and again just for the pure joy of joining in the hippo hunt. This book is a perfect addition to your own personal collection, for a classroom or a library. I highly, highly recommend this book.
Media reviews...
Kirkus Reviews (US), August 2016
MacIver’s bouncy, rhyming text betrays its antipodean origins with dropped H’s aplenty: “I got ’im, Miss! I got ’im, Miss!” Davis’ colorful illustrations match the text’s energy and zaniness, doing a better job than many at capturing racial differences among the children. Buoyant fun for the very young.
Best Books of 2016, The School Library Journal (US), August 2016
It has all the frantic energy of something like Catch That Cookie, but it also speaks to those quiet kids in a class. Good-natured, funny, and a fabulous readaloud to groups of kids.
BookTrailers4KidsandYA (NZ), August 2016
Juliette’s rhyme and way with words is wonderful to read aloud. Sarah’s ability to turn any story into works of illustrative art is equally wonderful...The children are delightful, full of colour and character. Readers will love finding hippo in amongst the pages.
Book Nerd Mommy (US), August 2016
One of the other best parts is the catchy text. Juliette uses rhyme, rhythm, short sentences and repetition to write a text that is a blast to read! It has a fast and frantic feel to it that matches the illustrations and all the “iss”‘s and “us”‘s just add to the fun, making it a perfect read aloud. She is really a master of language.
Reviews Coming at YA (US), August 2016
Full of diversity, these adorable children are just what kids should be--silly and curious. The illustrations of the diverse class enhances adventure with colorful and racially diverse characters.
About the author...
Juliette MacIver lives in a seaside suburb in New Zealand, with her husband and her live-in test audience of four young children.
First published in 2010, and she now has 16 picture books released with four different publishers: Scholastic NZ, Gecko Press, Walker Books and HarperCollins Australia. Four of her books have won the Storylines Notable Book Award, and six have been short-listed for other top awards in New Zealand and Australia.
Her books are also available in Canada, the UK, and the USA, where one of her most recent books, Yak and Gnu, received excellent reviews in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Boston Globe and the National Bulletin for Children’s Literature.
When not writing, she enjoys yoga, playing soccer, and dancing with her children in the kitchen. She is also a little bit fanatical about the Rubik’s Cube.
About the Illustrator...
Sarah Davis began illustrating picture books in 2008, and is now ruined for any other career. She has an honours degree in literature, and her love of language and narrative underpins her illustration work - as a self-taught artist, she is constantly experimenting with new ways to tell stories visually. She has illustrated more than 30 books with major publishers and been shortlisted for numerous awards in Australia and New Zealand. Sarah is an ambassador for Room to Read, and the Illustrator Coordinator for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (Australia East/NZ)
Sarah is represented by the Gallt Zacker Agency in the USA and Frances Plumpton Literary Agency in New Zealand
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