Mr. Fun

July 1, 2006
Gr 2-3 -Readers will welcome the return of the lovable but henpecked hippo and his tick bird buddies. Amos is worried because Amoeba, who lives in a nest on top of his head and eats his troublesome bugs, is bored. She thinks Amos is dull and prefers the company of her imaginary friend, Nungwe. Stung, Amos determines to prove that he is a fun guy and, after canvassing the avian and reptilian populations, takes the advice of a vulture travel agent to take an adventure-filled trip down the river to the Serengeti. Poor Amos doesn -t count on all of Amoeba -s friends and relations tagging along and causing all sorts of hilarious complications. Children will enjoy the humor in the contrast between the well-meaning huge hippo and the bossy, controlling birds -a nice bit of empowerment for the small. The ridiculously silly circular conversations between Amos and the birds are laugh-out-loud funny, and the whimsical cartoon illustrations perfectly capture the animals - personalities. Drawings of Amos -s cross-eyed attempts to see what -s happening in the aviary on his head are particularly delightful. Large print and generous white space make this a perfect transition book between easy readers and intermediate fiction. A few lessons on African animals fit in nicely. Happily, all ends well as Amos -quite by accident -discovers how to please his demanding friends. An appealing fantasy." -Quinby Frank, formerly at Green Hedges School, Vienna, VA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.