Hippos Go Berserk!
This book uses counting in both directions as nine hippos arrive one by one and then leave in the same order. It's a clever way to introduce numbers to toddlers. Younger children will likely enjoy counting the hippos on the pages months before they can actually count objects in their own lives.
Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boynton is estimated to take about 3 minutes to read aloud (130 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 0-3.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 130Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 0-3Our editorial fit
Our review
This board book uses a rhythmic, repetitive structure to teach counting. As the hippos enter and exit, the story naturally moves through numbers forwards and backwards, providing a built-in lesson in basic numeracy.
The rhyming text and predictable pattern make it highly engaging for toddlers. It's an excellent tool for children who are just starting to grasp the concept of numbers through visual play.
Before you buy it
The story concludes with one hippo left alone in the house, which some children may find sad rather than funny.
Themes
- counting
- parties
- hippos
- first numbers
Books like Hippos Go Berserk!
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Hippos Go Berserk! aloud?
About 3 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 130. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Hippos Go Berserk! actually for?
Ages 0-3 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Hippos Go Berserk! survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is Hippos Go Berserk! 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, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Hippos Go Berserk!?
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 Hippos Go Berserk! on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 2 sentences 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 Hippos Go Berserk! cover?
We tag it with counting, parties, hippos and first numbers. 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.
