I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Bruce Whatley, John Rox
Published by HarperCollins on September 15, 2020
ISBN: 0063043211
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Goodreads

“I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” is based off the popular holiday song by John Rox and illustrated by Bruce Whatley. The book uses the lyrics to the song and shows the little girl imagining what it will be like to get a hippo for Christmas. If you’ve heard the song, you know how the book will go. The premise is silly enough that kids will probably enjoy it. Whatley’s beautiful illustrations skirt the line between completely realistic and cartoonish just enough that you can believe that this is what it would look like if a child got a hippo for Christmas.

Written for kids age 4 through 8, though younger children will enjoy the absurdity of a hippo for a present. The author bio at the back lets us know that the song was originally written in 1950 and became a hit in 1953 when it was used to raise money for the Oklahoma City Zoo to purchase a hippopotamus. Not a must-purchase for your holiday collection, but it will probably get picked up every December.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.