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Publisher and Date: Orchard Books, 1996
Illustrator: Chris Rischka
Audience Level: K and up
Main Theme: Encouragement
Other Possible Themes: Friendship, Sibling Rivalry, Growing Up, Teasing
Values to Target: Confidence, Internal Strength
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About the Story

The hippopotamus, Roosevelt, is often teased by his older sister for blushing. Roosevelt is called the blushful hippopotamus when: he falls down; eats ice cream; can’t stay on his bike; says the wrong word; or works on his counting. Roosevelt turns to his feathered friend named Lombard to ask his opinion. Lombard encourages the hippo by telling him he’s hopeful, mindful, thoughtful, skillful, and wonderful. The illustrations add to the story because the sister in the illustrations becomes smaller and smaller as Roosevelt is encouraged—while Roosevelt’s image grows larger and larger. These are symbolic of Roosevelt’s confidence and internal strength growing and sister’s shrinking.

Dialogue
Talk about What You Notice in the Story
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The teacher presented this book to a second grade class of remedial students. The listened very intently, sometimes laughing at the sister’s statements and sometimes feeling for the hippo.
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Brandon: His sister laughs at him.
Codi:His sister laughs at him because he rides his bike and wrecks.
Anna: The sister keeps on bugging him.
Dennis: I don’t like the sister.
Jean: The sister is kinda’ mean - she call him names.
Codi: She said “pooh”. I don’t know why.
Cody: She’s sad.
Codi: Oh, she couldn’t do like him.
Anna:The bird was talking about the hippo. She said good things about the hippo.
Jean: The hippo gets big.
Brandon: The sister gets little because she’s mean.
 

Talk About How the Story Makes You Feel
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The students expressed a great deal of emotion when the teacher read this book aloud. It opened the door to their feelings of being teased. Most were able to understand the hippo’s position. It would be good to explore the sister’s position at the next reading.
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Anna: I felt sorry for the hippo.
Dennis: I didn’t like that sister. She was mean.
Cody: I wanted to hit her (the sister). It made me made.
Codi: The hippo was happy with the bird. I liked the bird.
Jean: The bird told the hippo good things. He was a good friend.
Anna: I think the sister is jealous.
Codi: I think we have to be nice like the bird and the hippo.
Anna: You’re suppose to be nice, not mean.
 

Talk about What the Story Reminds You of in Your Life
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The teacher opened the discussion by asking the second graders if they know anyone like the characters in the book.
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Anna: My brother bugs me like the sister did to the hippo.
Jean: My sister is like that sometimes. She laughs at me when I make a mistake, but not much like the sister.
Cody: I have a friend who says good things like the bird.
Dennis: The bird is good and the hippo is good.
Codi: I know somebody in my room that is like the sister and he gets in trouble with the teacher.
Dennis: The sister just got little. She was not happy.