FICTION

Hiccupotamus

by Steve SMALLMAN
illus. by Ada Grey. 32p. Tiger Tales. Mar. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781589251717.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—A squeaking mouse sitting near a bubbling creek inspires an impromptu jungle band. A bird overhears the mouse and sings along, soon joined by a toe-tapping centipede. A monkey, a warthog, and eventually a crocodile playing his teeth like a xylophone participate in the jam session. Joyfully exhausted, the animals at last rest in a heap. To the mouse they cry, "We all helped it's true. But the person we should thank is…." The rhythmic, rhyming text is suddenly disrupted when the page turn reveals a large hippo shouting, "Me!" This unexpected participant divulges that his hiccups created the bubbling creek. The fun, colorful illustrations perfectly depict this musical romp in the jungle, which is sure to elicit some giggles.
VERDICT This bubbly selection will be a hit with the storytime crowd.
Reviewed by Laura Hunter, Mount Laurel Library, NJ
Hearing a bubbling from the creek, Mouse is inspired to squeak along. The rhythm soon has a bird, centipede, monkey, warthog, and crocodile jamming, too, until Hippo, whose submarine hiccups started it all, pops out of the water to claim some credit. Dynamic, colorful illustrations and cumulative, chorus-encouraging onomatopoetic lines largely make up for those rhythms and rhymes that stumble a bit.
, Feb 01, 2015

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