You Won't Shift a Hippo

Bright and engaging pictures work well in this modern fable. Good use is made of different sizes of font, with important phrases set in bold. A great kerfuffle kicks up in the jungle. Lion, monkey and bristly warthog want to cross the bridge over the river. But hippo is sprawled across it, fast asleep. ‘You won’t shift a hippo if it don’t want to go!’ squawks parrot. The king of the jungle tries ordering the hippo to move, next they try pushing him. The fun really begins when warthog suggests bouncing him off the bridge. The humorous illustrations deftly show lion and friends counterbalancing hippo. ‘Up, Up, Up…Down, Down, Down.’Inevitably, whilst hippo lands safely back on the bridge, the four friends end up in the water. Who can persuade hippo to move? It is little mouse, who knows a thing or two, who provides the solution. Whilst reminding us of good manners, the story reinforces the importance of perseverance.