Hippos Go Berserk!

Hippos Go Berserk! is possibly the most delightful and funniest counting book ever written. We read this to our child hundreds of times and it never got old. Each time I chuckled at a different aspect of this hilarious story, from the hippo's expressions and home decor to the adult-relatable tale of throwing a party and the mayhem that ensues. My child loved it so much, she took it on every trip and our copy is held together with clear packing tape. I give this to every new baby in our lives, and every parent has told me it is the child's favorite book. Honestly, Hippos Go Berserk! would be on my list of The 5 Books You'd Want on a Deserted Island.

So cute!

What a cute and funny story! The hippos enter in groups, starting with one, then up to ten, and then they leave again, ten down to one. A cute way to introduce young minds to counting and have fun learning along the way. Just a cute story and even as an adult, it is fun! Cute illustrations. Will have to get more titles by Sandra Boynton!

We love Sandra Boyton books! Our 7 month old lets out a huge smile every time we flip to the page where the hippos go berserk! She studies that page very carefully and lets out a sweet laugh. We just love how many sweet family memories are being made through all of Sandra Boytons books.

An often unappreciated style of literature, the board book remains one of our generations most eloquent forms of storytelling. In this world of sophisticated and accessible literature, Sandra Boynton creates a window into a more simplistic view into the fast-paced world of adolescence. This dynamic tale centers around the complex hippopotamus social structure and the intriguing theme of addition to the point of excess. The experience of reading this exuberant novel is one sure to stick with the reader for a lifetime, opening the minds of adolescents , and providing an intimate perspective of reality for the older reader. As with many of today's most successful stories, Hippos Go Berserk begins with a relatable character, lonely and desiring something more in his life. It is this thirst for adventure that so magnificently drives him to summon his friends in hopes of excitement. Hippos arrive from near and far in sets ascending the number line, seeming innocent and enjoyable until the elusive number six. "Six hippos show up with a guest" writes Boynton, leaving the reader to question the identity of said guest. Depicted as a blue fuzzy ambiguous monster, the guest opens the readers' mind to the possibilities and beast-like qualities within themselves. Am I merely an uninvited guest at the metaphorical house party of a lonely hippopotamus? It is the complex inner monologue Boynton creates that really sets this book apart from her other masterpieces (i.e. Doggies). The height of excitement in the plot of this novel falls directly in the center, demonstrating the dangers of excess for the lonely, and spawning the iconic statement, "ALL THE HIPPOS GO BERSERK". This line goes down in history, as the quantity of hippos begin to go down in number. The plot itself concludes as each hippo deserts the illustrious party, leaving our first lonely hippo, missing those he has lost. Thus, in an epic of a mere 29 pages, we observe a lonesome hero rise to power, a self discovery inducing guest in our hearts, the height of an empire of hippopotamus delight, and the return to monotony for our unlucky hero. It is with this condensed form of literature and involved thematic concepts that Boynton rises to the forefront in the board book universe.

Bought this book and 3 other Sandra Boynton books (Are you A Cow?, Snuggle Puppy, and Doggies) for Christmas gifts for my best friend's 2-year old and my boyfriend's niece who is almost a year old. I think they will be perfect for mom and dad to read to them, and the girls to begin to learn to read as they grow! They are board books-- thick and good quality, that will be easy for tiny hands to hold... or put in their mouth... or whatever... haha. This one is a counting book that is based around hippos. I definitely picked it just because of the word "Berserk" which is one of my favorite words ever! It is very cute, and will be very fun for mom and dad as well as the girls :)

This is one of my very favorite baby books. I try to give it to as many new babies as I can. All Sandra Boynton books are the best!!

My son loves this book, but what stands out about it is that it has cute details that make it more fun for the adult who has to read the book umpteen million times to the child (often in a row). For example, there are certain details in the pictures (eg, the refined cocktail-drinking hippos taken aback by the wild party-animal hippos--don't worry, it's not like your kid knows the drinks are alcoholic; the Whistler's Mother Hippo painting), and the book features some more sophisticated grammar, vocabulary, and rhyme scheme than most board books (although not to the point that it is totally over kids' heads). I think it is good for the child to mix it up a bit and include some books with more challenging grammar and vocabulary as well as very simplistic books. And it really helps when some of the books in the pile are ones that don't make me cringe when my son wants to read them AGAIN. Indeed, I will sometimes try to steer him toward this one when I am getting way too sick of the duller ones! I also suspect this book will hold my son's interest far longer than many of his other books. He is 16 months now and has been enjoying this book for a long time even though he isn't talking much yet.