Hot Hippo: questions to ask and activities to try
Hippo is hot and longs to live in the water. Hot Hippo is a traditional-style African animal tale about wishes, promises and how Hippo came to live in the river.
What age is it for? Hot Hippo is best for ages 3–7. Good for: Keeping promises, and a traditional-style animal tale.
Hot Hippo (Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Keeping promises, and a traditional-style animal tale
Read it like a story told around a fire. Ask why Ngai made Hippo promise, and talk about how hippos really live. It's a lovely way into stories that explain how things came to be.
What it helps with
- Keeping promises
- Asking for what you want, kindly
- How animals live in the wild
- Traditional stories from Africa
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Why did Hippo want to live in the water?”
- “Who did he ask?”
- “What did Hippo have to promise?”
- “Why do hippos open their mouths wide?”
- “What promise have you made?”
- “Why is it important to keep a promise?”
5-minute activities to try together
How did it happen?
Make up your own story about how an animal got its look, like how the zebra got its stripes.
Hippo facts
Find three real facts about hippos together and compare them with the story.
Free printables: Hot Hippo worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Beware of the Crocodile (Martin Jenkins and Satoshi Kitamura)
- Best for
- Curious children who love real animal facts
- Age
- 4-8
Handa's Surprise (Eileen Browne)
- Best for
- Giving to a friend, guessing, and a funny surprise
- Age
- 2-6
Because of an Acorn (Lola M. Schaefer, Adam Schaefer and Frann Preston-Gannon)
- Best for
- How everything in nature is connected
- Age
- 3-7
Search all our books by what's happening →
By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.