Danny and "The Hiccupotamus"Every child had gotten the hiccups at least once.

But chances are they’ve never gotten as persistent a case as the purple hippo in Aaron Zenz’s picture book The Hiccupotamus (Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books/Pinwheel Books, 2009).

The hippo’s problem is quickly identified in the first stanza:

There was a hippopotamus
Who hiccupped quite-a-lotamus
And every time he got’emus
He’d fall upon his bottomus.

The other animals try to help. They spin him around, have him breath into a paper bag while tied to a buffalo, scare him, give him vinegar and tickle his chin. But the hics continue. And then, for no apparent reason, they stop.

But that’s not the end of the fun.

Danny, today’s guest reviewer, admits he’s had the hiccups. But they’ve never turned into a big deal. “I just drink a glass of water, and they go away,” he says.

Take it away, Danny!

Today’s reviewer: Danny

Age: 8

I like: Playing baseball and football.

This book was about: A hippo who gets the hiccups.

The best part was when: The animals tied the hippo to the buffalo upside down.

I laughed when: The buffalo hit his head on the ground.

I was worred that: All the other animals would get the hiccups and the hippo would be cured, and that’s what happened.

Three words that describe this book are: “Weird.” “Funny.” “Hysterical.”

My favorite line or phrase is: “She chased him toward the centipede, pouring new cementipede.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: All the “Hics” in the pictures.

Aaron Zenz has illustrated several picture books and easy readers. To learn more about his work, visit his website.

You also should visit his blog, Bookie Wookie. Why? Zenz has a collection of more than 3,000 picture books and he and his three children review them regularly. The reviews are conducted as an interview between Zenz and his kids and, trust me, they’re a delightful bunch. Then, the kids draw artwork inspired by the book which is adorable and admirable.

Got any good hiccup stories? Leave a comment!