Chatty Cherry Hippo

by Jeffrey Duane Stone

“Mommy?” asked Chatty Cherry, “Why do all Hippos have big bodies, big heads, big teeth, and small ears?”

Mommy Hippo looked surprised; like this was the first time she had ever heard this question asked.

“Well”, said Mommy. “That’s a good question, and I have the perfect answer”.

“First… we will ask your father”. That was the official answer, “first, we will ask your father”.

Father Hippo was just as chatty as Mother Hippo and Chatty Cherry. In fact, the whole family was chatty.

Father Hippo said “Ok, now everybody just sit down”.

“I heard your question, Chatty Cherry, and I have the perfect answer”.

Chatty Cherry was looking at her father, who was looking at her mother.

Chatty Cherry Hippo wanted to be ready for this most important answer, so she sat down on the extra wide sofa, made by Hippos, just for Hippos.

Father Hippo continued. “Look at your Hippo brothers, Melvin and Marty, and imagine them with different ears”.

Chatty Cherry imagined Melvin and Marty with long floppy ears, like those ears of a rabbit.

But, those ears just were not right for Hippos.

Chatty Cherry then tried to imagine her Hippo brothers with short pointed ears, like those ears of a chiguagua.

But those ears too, were not right for a Hippo.

Chatty Cherry Hippo thought some more, and tried to imagine her Hippo brothers with ears shaped like Africa, like those ears of an elephant.

But, again… those ears, were not right for a Hippo.

Chatty Cherry Hippo looked at her mother, who was looking at her father, who was looking at her.

Chatty Cherry smiled and said “I think I understand, father.”

Chatty Cherry’s father smiled back at Chatty Cherry, and said, “I knew you would find the answer for yourself”.

“In fact, I do have the perfect answer”, exclaimed Chatty Cherry Hippo. “I really do!”

Mother Hippo looked at Chatty Cherry Hippo, and then looked again at Father Hippo.

Mother Hippo said, “That’s our daughter, our best Hippo daughter”.

Now, Chatty Cherry could hardly refrain herself from interrupting Mother Hippo.

Father Hippo joined in, “yes, that’s our daughter, our only Hippo daughter”.

At that precise moment, Chatty Cherry Hippo burst out her answer.

“Hippos are not noticed for their ears!”

Indeed, hippos have big bodies, big heads, big teeth, and small ears.

Oh… and big hearts too…

All rights expressly reserved. Any content printed or downloaded may not be sold, resold, licensed, transferred, copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner or in or on any media to any person without the prior written consent of Jeffrey D. Stone

The author lives in the Dominican Republic.

Return to the Free Kids Books page.

Best Children's Books home.