Hippos Go Berserk! By Sandra Boynton (Pre-K)

Hippos Go Berserk! By Sandra Boynton (Pre-K)

Boynton, Sandra. (1996). Hippos Go Berserk! New York: Simon & Schuster.

Genre: Picture Counting Book

This is a picture book for counting numbers. It starts with one hippo on the phone then two more come, then three, until we reach the number 9. Then all the hippos must leave, so we begin to count down as the groups of hippos leave until there is one lonely hippo left.

This is a good book for cognitive development in younger children because it uses numbers and patterns to give the student an image of the number then repeat it.

“Counting books are used for specific purposes and usually develop a one-to-one correspondence and ability to count sequentially from 1 through 10” (Norton 166). This book allows students to start at the number 1, within a context and reach the number nine by groupings of hippos. This book then counts backwards challenging the thinking of young learners. The book shows the number in a symbol and also in a word. These are all good characteristics of high literature in Counting Books.

Illustrations- The illustrations in the book are simple and clear. Students could use the drawings of the hippos to find out the number on that page if the teacher were to do a picture walk, it would be clear to students without the symbol of the number or the word name of the letter.

Mini Lesson- This would be a good way to segway into a Childs own counting book when used with other materials students could have a basic understanding of the numbers and develop their own counting book.

Enjoyment- This book is geared toward younger learners such as Pre K or K.