THE HIPPO, THE RHINO, THE ELEPHANT AND ME

A week of whimsical fun with a little girl and her three entertaining friends.

As the title suggests, the protagonist in this story has an odd bunch of pals. However, the unlikely quartet is never at a loss for something fun to do. Sundays are hide-and-seek days; Mondays are musical. Tuesday is art day, while Wednesdays are reserved for make-believe—and so on. This rhyming story is in keeping with Ink Robin’s other offerings (Leonard and Piccadilly’s Circus, both 2012), which is to say that it’s well-written and engaging. There are plenty of interactive opportunities throughout the story, though they’re pretty conventional and straightforward (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). On coloring day, swiping the screen produces little sketches and drawings; when the four play dress-up and make-believe, a flip of a switch finds the girl roaring across the screen in a monster costume. Tapping each character on music day produces makeshift instruments that can be strummed and pots that act as a drum kit. Illustrations are both cheerful and fittingly sparse, and the pleasant narration can be turned on or off. Near the end of the story, Mom reminds the foursome that playing can be messy. So they dutifully clean up their messes and take a bath, and then it’s off to bed.

An enjoyable, low-stimulation interactive story that should be great for bedtime.