Am I Beautiful?

From Publishers Weekly The author of Little Bear here introduces another endearing character: a young hippo who decides to "have a nice little walkabout" while his mother wallows in the mud one hot day. He encounters a mother lion nuzzling her cubs; a father heron teaching his fledglings to dance; and a human mother playing with her baby. Since the parents tell their wee ones how beautiful they are, the hippo does his best to imitate each group of offspring in turn, asking if he, too, is beautiful. Of course no one can answer the question--until his own mother assures him that he is "the most beautiful of all, since you are mine!" Abolafia's ( Fox Tale ; A Fish for Mrs. Gardenia ) sprightly watercolors deftly portray the affectionate relationships between these creatures and their young, reinforcing Minarik's effective variation on a theme no child can hear often enough: unconditional parental love. Ages 3-up. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal PreSchool-K-- While his mother takes a wallow, Young Hippo goes off wandering. He looks on as a lioness croons endearments as she plays with her cubs. A father stork teaches his children to dance, complimenting them and singing their praises. A woman cuddles with her child in front of a thatched hut saying, ``You are the dearest, fattest, most beautiful little baby in the whole world.'' Who will tell Young Hippo he is beautiful? Why, his own mother, of course. He hurries back to her and receives his own share of maternal affection. Minarik tells a gentle tale of early childhood, while Abolafia's watercolor cartoons in soft pastel shades are round and lovable. Many pages feature unmentioned secondary characters such as lizards, frogs, butterflies, mice, and even elephants and giraffes who are going about their own business. This is a winner for the toddler set, but for an even more joyous, more exuberant rendering of similar ideas, look to Vera Williams's ``More, More, More,'' Said the Baby (Greenwillow, 1990). --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TXCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.