Big Little Hippo by Valeri Gorbachev

Big Little Hippo Reviews

• 
  Matt

  On our 'hippo binge' and before we head over to the zoo today, Neo wanted to read about this little one. Little Hippo is the smallest in his family and, it would seem, the tiniest animal in the entire jungle. He mopes and complains about this, until he comes across a beetle that has encountered some trouble. After helping out, he receives a new moniker, one that he can enjoy as he brags to others. Neo liked this piece and laughed when Little Hippo conquered his troubling name. Now then, will we see any 'little' hippos today? Let's go find out...
• 
  Abigail

  Little Hippo was the youngest, smallest member of his family. Dwarfed by his parents, and littler than his elder siblings, he was also small compared to many of the other creatures he encountered. Feeling like the smallest animals in the world, and impatient to grow up and get bigger, he went for a walk and discovered a tiny creature - a baby beetle - in need of help. His act of kindness, and the reactions of the beetle family, made him feel very big indeed...
  
  A sweet story about being little but wanting to be big - an experience that many young children will recognize from their own lives - Big Little Hippo pairs a simple but engaging text with appealing watercolor artwork. I particularly appreciated the idea, implicit in the story, that there are many kinds of bigness, and that kindness is one them. Author/artist Valeri Gorbachev seems to specialize in animal stories, and this is a worthy addition to his large body of work. Recommended to all young children (and the parents in their lives) who feel small and long to grow bigger.
• 
  Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023)

  4* art
  2* story
  
  Who cares what the story is if Valeri Gorbechev is illustrating it? Squirt and I just love the little hippo. So adorable. This is not good reviewing, I realize that.
• 
  Kid Lit Reviews

  Perfect Picture Book Friday (PPBF)--BIG LITTLE HIPPO
  
  Themes: Growing Up, Helping Others, Self-Esteem
  
  Genre: Children’s Fiction Picture Book
  
  Synopsis: “Little Hippo is the youngest and smallest in his family—and sometimes he feels like the tiniest animal in the world. Little Hippo wants to be big right NOW! Then one day while taking a walk, the kindhearted little hippo learns you don’t have to grow up to feel big.” [INSIDE JACKET]
  
  Opening: “Little Hippo was the youngest in his family. He was the smallest, too. His sister was bigger. His brothers were bigger. His mother was bigger. And his father was bigger.”
  
  Why I Like this Book
  ~Little Hippo is largely the cutest small hippo I have ever seen.
  
  ~The entire Hippo family is terrific, especially their eye’s, which can me great expression is just the movement of their pupils.
  
  ~The ink and watercolor illustrations are not cartoonish, but give young children a fair representation of the wild world and the animals in it . . .
  
  Also, includes more reasons to like Big Little Hippo, resources and activities for kids, and the link to all the PPBF books collected and reviewed over the years. The collection is perfect for finding a book on a particular subject or theme. Teachers, each book includes resources and activities.
  
  Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews. The full PPBF entry can be read and interior illustrations seen at
  http://bit.ly/BigLittleHippo
  
• 
  Melki

  Little Hippo is tired of feeling small until he realizes that even a little creature can be a big helper. Another winner by Gorbachev, highlighted by the author's sweet and humorous illustrations.
  
  
  
• 
  Dianna

  I am a fan of Valeri Gorbachev, and my son is a fan of hippos, so this book was just right for us. This is hands-down the most adorable hippo book I have ever seen. The story is sweet and simple. Definitely worth checking out!
• 
  Ruth

  This was such an adorable book!!
• 
  Linda

  Feelings depend on perspective, and Little Hippo felt “little” all the time, compared to his siblings, his mom and dad, the big old crocodile and the tall, tall giraffe. However, things can change when Little Hippo helps turn over a small beetle trapped on its back. This simple and beautiful story with soft black-outlined-colored illustrations all by Valeri Gorbachev will please young children as it moves from unhappy to happy, all because of a good deed.
• 
  Terry

  Young readers - especially those with older siblings - will see themselves in Little Hippo. As you go through the story, stop and ask your young listener what they see or how they think Little Hippo feels. His perspective of himself changes, and that is something easily recognized by young children.
  
  Get more in
  full review at the Reading Tub.
• 
  Juliana Lee

  Little Hippo is the littlest one in his family. He thinks he's the littlest one in the jungle and wants to grow up NOW! When he helps a little beetle, the beetle family thanks him for helping their baby. Little Hippo is so excited, he runs home to tell his family that is is now big. And his new name, Big Little Hippo fits him just right!
• 
  Vicki

  A little hippo struggles to be "bigger" like his family and friends in the jungle. When he helps someone smaller than he is, and they call him big, he is overjoyed.
  
  A nice message with lovely green & lush illustrations with friendly looking animal characters.
  
  This author/illustrator provides great picture books for young children.
• 
  The Library Lady

  Little Hippo is smaller than everyone he knows. But then he helps someone even smaller, who finds HIM big. Simple and sweet without being too sweet, with a nice little message or two that kids will understand.
• 
  Arminzerella

  Little hippo is small compared to his family members, and crocodile, and elephant. Although he's impatient to grow up, he learns that he's "big" when compared to some other creatures. Baby beetle and his family are so grateful when BIG little hippo helps them out.
• 
  Carol

  Library book. What an adorable story! I loved this one and our little man of three liked it too. Has a wonderful lesson about how being little doesn't mean you're not important and how your little gestures can mean the world to those around you. Lovely story, lovely illustrations, lovely message.
• 
  Alisha

  A little hippo wants to be big right now. Almost every other animal in the jungle is bigger than him. Then one day little hippo finds a creature that is smaller and needs his help. He finally realizes he's not so small after all. I really like the illustrations in this one.
• 
  Brittany

  Yay for perspective!
• 
  Gigi

  Little Hippo learns that size is relative and everyone is "big" to someone else. Cute for Prek-2.
• 
  Marcie

  I like this for both the illustrations and the message. The repetitive text makes it almost a beginning reader even though the format is of a preschool picture book.
• 
  Christine D

  super sweet ;)
• 
  Rachel

  The illustrations are lovely and it has a nice sentiment.
• 
  Amy

  I fell in love with Valeri Gorbachev's work when I first read Nicki and The Rainy Day to my kids.
• 
  Sara Stapf

  Any book about Hippos is amazing
• 
  Kelly

  Sometimes it just sucks being the littlest one in the family. But just because you may be little in your family doesn't mean you are little to others.
• 
  Kara (bookishskippy)

  This is so cute for kids!
  I enjoyed the illustrations 😄
• 
  N.

  Hmm. I'm going to hold on a rating and see what a little one thinks of this. The illustrations are wonderful but the storyline is not impressive.
• 
  Tonja Drecker

  This little hippo steals the heart and proves that big is all a matter of perspective.
  
  Little Hippo is not big. He's the smallest in his family, and maybe the smallest in the jungle. All he wants is to become large, but that takes time. And he doesn't want to wait. When he runs across someone in need, his thoughts take a spin.
  
  With gentle words and a flowing text, this is a perfect read-aloud for younger listeners. The pacing is great, never too fast and never too slow. In many ways, it has more of a traditional picture book atmosphere. After a few times going through, kids will be able to recite much of the story along with the reader (which is always fun).
  
  The tale is simple but addresses something many younger kids worry about--wanting to be bigger. Little Hippo envelopes this desire as he romps through the jungle in the cutest way. The creatures he meets are easily recognizable, and when Little Hippo makes his discovery about size, it's hard not to feel those warm fuzzy feelings growing inside.
  
  The illustrations are sweet, fairly simple and push the story along. There aren't too many extra details, allowing the animals to hold the attention. The colors are a little on the dim side, but this does push at those eyelids, making it a good bedtime read.
  
  Although there's a hint at adventure, this has a gentle plot and leaves behind a simple 'feel good' atmosphere. Younger audiences (ages 2-4) are sure to enjoy it, where older ones might find it too simple.
  
  Summed up, it's a lovely bedtime read for young listeners who enjoy animals, secure/warm thoughts, and simply wish they were a little bigger.
  
  I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and wanted to leave my thoughts.