Hippobottymus

Hippobottymus

By Steve Smallman and illustrated by Ada Grey

Published by Little Tiger Press

We’re celebrating award-winning author Steve Smallman and Ada Grey’s Poo in the Zoo this week, and here's another laugh out loud book by the talented duo - Hippobottymus. It’s fun, it’s bonkers and features a farting surprise!

When Mouse sits down by a bubbling creek, the creek loudly bubbles which made Mouse squeak, squeak, SQUEAK! The bubbling and the squeak make a great song and soon Bird wants to sing along and Centipede too, tapping a beat with his tappity feet. Other animals want to join in once they hear the music; there’s a monkey crying “Woo-hoo” and a Warthog banging on his bottom like a big bass drum, and finally being joined by Crocodile, playing on his teeth like a xylophone with a bone. All of the animals are having fun, dancing and making music all day long. Mouse thanks everyone, but who was making the bubbling sound?…It’s Hippo. But Mouse and all of the other animals don’t realise it was Hippo until he explains that he had beans in the week and his bottom has been parping and making bubbles in the creek!

Hippobottymus is very funny and has a musical rhyming story that will get you singing along to the musical noises with the little ones. I found myself singing out loud and getting louder as each animal joins in. I especially love the end, reading Hippo’s reason for his trumping and parping bottom. Ada Grey’s lively illustrations work really well with this funny story too, bringing extra humour to the pages.

Like Poo in the Zoo, Hippobottymus is packed full with laughs! Available in all good book shops and online from Little Tiger Press. 

Poo in the Zoo Activity Sheet

With the kids all on school holidays now here's a great activity sheet illustrated by Ada Grey to download and colour in. You can download the Poo in the Zoo activity sheet from here. Don't forget that there's still time to win a signed copy of Poo in the Zoo, more information here and on my twitter.

Steve Smallman Q&A

It's Poo in the Zoo week and today we have a Q&A with author Steve Smallman, writer of Hippobottymus, Big, Bad Owl, Bear's Big Bottom as well as countless others.

Steve Smallman has taken up writing his own stories after illustrating children's books for over 30 years. He also teaches illustration and mural-painting workshops in schools. When he's not working, Steve enjoys films, television, gardening and walking in the countryside.

BWB: How did you come up with the idea for Poo in the Zoo?

SS: Actually, It wasn't my initial idea, the publishers, Little Tiger Press came up with the title and asked me to write it. It took me three goes; the first was too predictable, the second unprintable and the third was just right!

BWB: Do you have a favourite animal in the zoo?

SS: I really like giraffes, maybe because I was tall and skinny (and spotty) when I was young!

BWB: Do you have a favourite animal poo?

SS: Well, I haven't really given it too much thought but, I suppose elephant poo; impressive  but not too stinky.

BWB: Do you prefer to write or illustrate?

SS: I like to do both. I need to draw, it's part of who I am but I really enjoy writing too. I like to illustrate my books every now and then just to keep my hand in but I'm mostly happy to let someone else draw the pictures  (especially when it's someone talented like Ada Grey!)

BWB: Where's your favourite place to write?

SS: I actually type up my stories in the hall at my house but for planning new stories, coffee shops are great and dog walking is good for mulling over ideas! ( I did get strange from other dog walkers, talking through Poo in the Zoo out loud!)

Thank you Steve for a wonderfully stinky Q&A! If you would like the chance of winning a signed copy of Poo in the Zoo, simply leave a comment below or RT this tweet and follow me! More Poo in the Zoo fun tomorrow!

Poo in the Zoo

Poo in the Zoo

By Steve Smallman & illustrated by Ada Grey
Published by Little Tiger Press

There’s too much poo in the zoo and Zoo Keeper Bob is exhausted. There’s tiger poo, lion poo, prickly porcupine poo, plummeting giraffe poo and even bouncy kangaroo poo! Steve Smallman and Ada Grey are back with their latest, hilarious book, Poo in the Zoo. What will Keeper Bob do when a mysterious glowing poo turns up, is it from outer space? Children will love this fun, poopy picture book.

Join Bob McGrew, a keeper at the zoo. Keeper Bob loves animals but it’s not always fun working at the zoo because he has to push around a cart all day shovelling up the POO! There is so much poo; Lion’s poo, bouncy kangaroo’s poo, drippy droppings from a fat wombat, flying bits of bat’s poo and a pongy pat of panda poo. But when it’s time to muck out Iguana’s enclosure, a tired Keeper Bob slips on a banana, and a cheeky Iguana makes a run for it. The Iguana causes havoc in the cafeteria, eating everything in sight, including lime lollies and all the cake from the cake stand and he think’s he can’t eat any more when he spots some sparkly fireflies and gobbles them up as well. Iguana’s bum starts to glow, and with a funny face he plopped a huge, glowing poop on the floor. Shocked at the poo, Iguana soon dashes back to his cage. 

When Zoo Keeper Bob finds the huge glowing poo, he’s never seen a poo like this and thinks it must be from outer space. It isn’t long before everyone has heard about the glowing poo and flock to see it. A Hector Gloop turns up who is a poo collector and wants to show Keeper Bob his Poo Museum. Filled with huge poos, tiny poos, even mammoth and a rare dragon poo, Hector Gloop wants to buy the glowing poo. Keeper Bob sold the poop and spends the money wisely on a robot pooper scooper. No more scooping poop for Keeper Bob McGrew.

Poo in the Zoo is hilariously funny, and with a rhyming text, you will enjoy reading this out loud to little ones with its cheeky word play. Ada Grey’s illustrations are bold, with cute fun characters and she has managed to illustrate all of the different types of poo rather tastefully! 

This poop filled picture book will have you and your little ones roaring with laughter at all of the poo antics that goes on at Bob McGrew’s zoo. Recommend at ages 3+, you can buy Poo in the Zoo at all good bookshops or online here. Visit the blog all this week for more Poo in the Zoo fun, with an exclusive interview from Steve Smallman tomorrow. There will also be the opportunity to win a signed copy of the book which I'll announce on my twitter account today, so get following to find out more!