Reading Metrics
Description
A little boy with a big imagination pretends to be many different things over the course of his busy day.
Quick Summary
Tom MacRae's When I Woke Up I Was a Hippopotamus flips a regular morning into a wild parade of pretend, as a boy wakes up convinced he's a hippo and then keeps turning into a dragon, a superhero, a pirate, and more while getting ready, eating breakfast, and heading out the door. The story's humor comes from the clash between the ordinary settings like the kitchen table or the bathtub and the boy's huge, over-the-top transformations, which makes it especially fun for kids who love to make up ridiculous stories. At just 587 words, it's a quick, easy read that still feels satisfying, and the simple sentences and bright, dynamic illustrations keep early readers moving forward without getting stuck. Parents can feel good that the book is purely silly and positive, with no scary or inappropriate moments, making it a safe pick for a bedtime story or a classroom read-aloud. If your child enjoys the quick-fire imagination of The Book With No Pictures or the friendship-driven pretend play of The Adventures of Beekle, they'll likely get a kick out of this one too.