The blushful hippopotamus

Chris Raschka’s The Blushful Hippopotamus (1996) is about a little hippo named Roosevelt. He blushes easily, especially when things go wrong or he feels clumsy. At first, his older sister teases him, and she looks so big on the page that Roosevelt seems tiny and unsure.

He has a friend, a small bird named Lombard, who quietly reminds him of all the good things about himself. With each gentle word, Roosevelt feels a little lighter, a little braver, until he starts to feel more like himself again.

By the end, the sister seems smaller, and Roosevelt feels steady and calm inside. The story moves softly, showing how a bit of care and encouragement can make a child feel safe and seen.