L’hippopotame bleu

L’hippopotame bleu
Phoebe Gilman
Editions Scholastic
ISBN: 0-439-94893-2
Fiction, Children’s, French
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

L’hippopotame bleu is a French story about a little hippopotamus named Hapu. One day while playing in the water, he meets a new friend, the daughter of the Pharaoh. Instantly, the two become fast friends. Unfortunately, Hapu’s hippo friends tell him that it is inappropriate to have the human as a friend.
Hapu is sad, that is until he talks to a heron. This heron had once been a butterfly but a magician turned him into a heron. With renewed hopes, Hapu seeks out the magician in hopes that he can be turned into a prince. The magician tells Hapu that this is an impossible task so the two decide that Hapu will be turned into a toy, a blue hippopotamus so that he and the young girl can play.
L’hippopotame bleu is a touching story about love and friendship. The ending is quite beautiful.