But Not the Hippopotamus
A rhythmic counting book where animals join in a group, but the hippo is left out on every spread. It builds anticipation through repetition before a final, silent moment where everyone finally waits for her.
But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton is estimated to take about 2 minutes to read aloud (60 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 0-3.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 2 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 60Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 0-3Our editorial fit
Our review
This book plays with the toddler's sense of belonging and timing. The repetitive pattern of the animals joining in makes it easy to follow, and the humor comes from the hippo’s exclusion.
It’s an excellent way to introduce the concept of a pause or a beat in a story. The timing of the ending is key to the whole experience.
Before you buy it
The ending relies on a single silent beat. It’s common for adults to read right through the pause, but the book is built around that specific moment of silence.
Themes
- belonging
- animals
- rhyme
- joining in
Books like But Not the Hippopotamus
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read But Not the Hippopotamus aloud?
About 2 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 60. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is But Not the Hippopotamus actually for?
Ages 0-3 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does But Not the Hippopotamus survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is But Not the Hippopotamus a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it rhymes, and it has a refrain a child can join in with. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise But Not the Hippopotamus?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 4 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read But Not the Hippopotamus on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does But Not the Hippopotamus cover?
We tag it with belonging, animals, rhyme and joining in. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists But Not the Hippopotamus is on
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