"Hello, Hippo! Good bye, Bird!" is fun picture book written by Utah author Kristyn Crow and illustrated by Argentinian artist Poly Bernatene. The book is intended for children ages 3-7.
Bird wants to be friends with Hippo, but Hippo wants to be left alone. Bird tells Hippo jokes. Hippo wants Bird to go away. Even though Bird makes himself into an umbrella and keeps bugs off of Hippo by eating them, Hippo still wants Bird to leave him alone. But then, after Bird is gone and a thunderstorm comes, Hippo starts to think he has made a mistake.
This story is simple, but it holds a complicated truth about friendship: sometimes one person in a relationship meets the needs of the other who does not reciprocate or show appreciation.
I am a teacher's aide at my daughter’s grade school, and I've noticed that sometimes when children develop early relationships, they fail to acknowledge benefits they receive from the other person. This hilarious book might prompt a conversation with your child about the benefits and responsibilities of friendship. It might show that even a grumpy hippo can use a devoted friend. Or "Hello, Hippo! Good bye, Bird!" might simply be great fun to read and look at together.
Age Range: 3 - 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (April 12, 2016)
The Write Question blog
The Write Question on Facebook
The Write Question on Twitter
The Write Question podcast
Kristyn Crow’s first book, Cool Daddy Rat, received starred reviews and was named a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book. She is also the author of Zombelina and Bedtime at the Swamp.
Poly Bernatene graduated from Buenos Aires Art School and has worked across many different genres, including advertising, animation, and comic books. He has illustrated more than 60 children’s books all over the world, including Ribbit!, written by Rodrigo Folgueira. Ply Bernatene lives and works in Argentina.
Olivia Sears is the mother of two daughters and a board operator and deejay at Montana Public Radio. Her interests and hobbies include reading, writing, cooking, beading, and playing and learning with her children. Some of her family's favorite reading adventures have to do with Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte’s Web, Junie B. Jones, Beatrix Potter, Ramona and Beezus, and anything from David Shannon. Olivia learned a love of reading from her mother and keeps these words from Edmund Wilson in mind when writing her reviews: "No two persons ever read the same book."
