Henrietta the Dancing Hippo

This is a very jolly story with one or two chuckles in store. Henrietta is a large pink hippo with ambitions to ballet dance. It isn't that she can't dance - she is actually rather good at it (and the pictures show her abilities very amusingly) - but, because of her size, she is a positive danger to other animals, landing heavily on tails or paws and knocking them over as she twirls and leaps. Poor Henrietta has her ballet shoes confiscated. Will she ever dance again? Well, yes, she does. I won't reveal the satisfying ending but I will hint that if you enjoy synchronised swimming...

This story is very satisfactory: Henrietta retains her hippo nature, despite the unlikely plot, she always is a hippo and the story wouldn't work were she a tiger or a mouse. The drawings are full of character and Henrietta's feelings and activities are mirrored in every line. She is delighted, defiant, miserable and happy, and all the other animals are as well expressed in the crowded comic pages. Much enjoyed.