Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind- Book Review

Moving far from friends and familiar places made Ruthie act bratty and miserable. She sassed her parents and disobeyed all the rules. Their darling girl was gone, replaced by a kid with moods as big and ugly as a hippo’s fat behind! Then came the magic moment that brought back their darling girl. Suggested age for readers: 5-12

Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind, written by Margot Finke and illustrated by KC Snider, will keep children and adults alike giggling page after each delightful page.  Ruthie has a problem.  Her family is moving across the state, far from her friends.  This made Ruthie’s moods as big and nasty as a Hippo’s behind! She tormented and talked back to her parents, threw tantrums like a two year-old and was just plain miserable. She began to think she didn’t belong.  Until one day a cute white, wiggling bundle of fur melted Ruthie’s heart.  He licked away Ruthie’s misery and was her new best friend.  Now that Ruthie wasn’t alone, she began to make friends with the help of Jerome.  Puppy love took Ruthie’s heart and pushed out the gloom.

Margot  has a gift for rhyming and humor.  Her descriptions are lively and fun.  I love Ruthie’s mood being portrayed as a big fat hippo’s behind.  It makes it easier to talk about sensitive issues when children can relate them to something fun.  Dealing with change can turn children into monsters.  Margot helps children see that they aren’t alone and it’s natural to feel just like Ruthie did.  I highly recommend this book for children ages 4 to 10.  Even if they aren’t dealing with change in their lives right now, it will happen to them sooner or later.

Margot included a Parent Teacher Guide at the end of the book.  There are a list of questions about the story to find out what your child thought of Ruthie.  Did they guess why she was acting so bratty?  It asks children to think about their own moods, their parents, being lonely and being happy.  It’s a great way to review the important lessons in the book.   It asks if they like the hippo and if they think the hippo stole the story from Ruthie.  Most children relate to funny animals because they love them.   I feel the hippo was a great way to show a big bunch of feelings, whether they be loney and sad or overflowing and happy, like at the end.  Margot even lists a few websites that will be of help for parents that need additional help dealing with change.  Change can be a good thing if you give it time to turn from crankiness to acceptance and  happiness.

About the author:  Margot Finke is an Aussie transplant who writes mid-grade adventure fiction and rhyming picture books. For many years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between writing. Their three children are now grown and doing very well. Margot didn’t begin serious writing until the day their youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot said, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between kid fights, diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes! “

Margot’s knows many kids today are reluctant readers(especially boys), or have other reading problems. She writes books with a WOW factor that help to HOOK them on reading. Her rhyming picture books, “Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind,” and “Horatio Humble Beats the Big D,” (dyslexia)include helpful parent teacher guides. 

Buy Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind on Amazon today.

FREE GIVEAWAY of a short adventure she wrote for kids. It has Ruthie, + two other characters from Margot’s latest books, in a fun, Down-Under adventure:  “Taconi and Claude’s 21^st Century Adventure.”

Download the pdf book FREE.

http://myplace.frontier.com/~mfinke/FREE%20T&C%20Download.htm#FREE

 

Be sure to visit Margot’s Blog!

Leave me a comment and let me know what kind of change your children have gone through!