HIDING HORATIO

PLB 0-7358-1068-0 Woodland creatures are terrified to discover a hippopotamus in their midst, but when they discover he’s a friendly fellow, his size becomes less intimidating. When a small circus decides they don’t need Horatio, the hippopotamus decides to go home to Africa instead of waiting around to be sold. He ends up in a deciduous forest, where squirrels, mice, and badgers peek at him from among the leaves. Horatio’s gentle nature wins them over, just in time for them to help him baffle the hunters who are hot on his trail. “How could a hippo vanish into thin air?” puzzles one hunter as he leans against a large gray boulder. By the time he figures out the rock was really Horatio, the hippo has found another hiding place (his legs become tree stumps the hunters climb as part of their search; he also becomes a small flower-covered island). The hunters eventually give up in frustration, while Horatio decides he’s found a new home. Slow to start, Weigelt’s story becomes truly funny when the hunters enter the scene; the contrast between the deadpan text and Horatio’s absurd hiding places is pitch-perfect for preschoolers, who know only too well how to hide in plain sight. (Picture book. 4-7)