Hippos Go Berserk!: The 45th Anniversary Edition

Hippos Go Berserk! is a lovely children's picture about about a single lonely hippo, who calls two hippos on the phone to visit, and those two hippos turn into three, then into four, until so many arrive for a night of hippo hijinks!

This is such a great book for toddlers, preschoolers, and even kindergarteners. Its a simple and silly counting and rhyming book fun.
The counting, up and down, is great for early number recognition. Boynton uses a steady style, allowing the reader to go at their own pace.
The rhyming isn't cumbersome, making it easy to read this book aloud.

The illustrations are delightful and are easily interactive. I love how each page had the hippos coming (or going) in a different, imaginative style!
My absolute favorite part has to be when the author uses "Berserk." The illustration captures this feeling well, and what child doesn't love the feeling of letting it all go, much like these silly hippos?

HIPPOS GO BERSERK is a delightful picture book with plenty of rhyme, silliness, and fun! It begins with one hippo all alone, who then calls some hippos on the phone, and soon there are so many hippos showing up for the party. After a great night of partying, the hippos must leave at break of day. They head out in groups until there is just the one hippo left alone again.

What I loved: It is so easy to see why this is such an enduring book for toddlers and preschoolers. It is simple but silly and plenty of fun. The detailed illustrations add a lot for children to explore on each page. The hippos are adorable, and they all arrive and leave in style. The counting up and down is great for early number recognition, and the rhyming style is fun for children to hear and for parents to read aloud. This does not feel like the typical counting book and has a delightful style that gives the numbers quickly, though children can count them as desired.

Boynton really has a great way with books that toddlers will love, and this is another timeless classic that children can experience in a new way. The picture book style presents the story with larger images that make them seem bright, colorful, and inviting, and will work for preschoolers, who will love experiencing this classic with their caregivers.

Final verdict: HIPPOS GO BERSERK! is a delightful picture book that is sure to charm toddlers and preschoolers. This new anniversary edition is a fun one for caregivers to share with little ones.