Skip to content
ReadRead
12 tokens
MMiaSwitch reader

Back to all books
Twirl, Hippo, Twirl
AnimalsFeelingsAges 5–7

Twirl, Hippo, Twirl

by ReadRead · 5 min read

Hattie is big and round, and she wobbles. A warm ballet story about trying, falling down, and finding your own way to twirl.

10pop-up spreads
43things to tap
2new words
Words in this book
twirlwobblearmsaroundbothbravobumpclaps
Peek inside

How would you like to read it?

Read it free

Inside the book

On a little stage in the park, Miss Flora the flamingo teaches ballet to Hattie the hippo and three little mice. Tonight is the big show. Miss Flora twirls on one long leg, and the mice twirl like spinning tops. But when Hattie goes up on one toe, she wobbles, and bump! Down she goes. Little Min the mouse has a secret: she wobbles too, so she twirls her own way.

Hattie the hippo twirls her own way on the park stage in Twirl, Hippo, Twirl.
Hattie the hippo twirls her own way on the park stage in Twirl, Hippo, Twirl.
Miss Flora the flamingo, Hattie the hippo and the ballet mice on the little park stage.
Miss Flora the flamingo, Hattie the hippo and the ballet mice on the little park stage.
Hattie goes up on one toe and starts to wobble.
Hattie goes up on one toe and starts to wobble.
At sunset the stage lights come on and everyone dances.
At sunset the stage lights come on and everyone dances.

The two new words

twirl

To spin round and round, like a dancer. It comes up 8 times, and every time a paper dancer spins right round on the stage.

wobble

To rock from side to side, almost falling. It comes up 8 times: Hattie wobbles on one toe, Min wobbles, and even Miss Flora wobbles on her one pink leg.

The two words go together: first you wobble, then you twirl. Every page shows one or the other, and the game page shows both. A refrain comes back (“Around and around she goes!”) so a child can join in. Every other word is a common word, like stage, leg, toe, mice and show.

Questions to ask while you read

Pause after each spread and ask one question. There are no right answers; the point is to get your child talking.

  1. 1Who is on the little stage? What is going to happen tonight?
  2. 2How does Miss Flora twirl? Can you twirl like the mice?
  3. 3Why does Hattie wobble? What happens next?
  4. 4How does Hattie feel? What would you say to her?
  5. 5What is Min’s secret?
  6. 6How does Hattie twirl her own way? Can you try it?
  7. 7Miss Flora wobbles too! Does everyone wobble sometimes?
  8. 8Who comes to watch the show?
  9. 9Tap each dancer: what do they do first, and then?
  10. 10What is something you do in your own way?

Tips for parents

  • First time: use Read to me and let your child just listen and watch.
  • Act the words out together: wobble on one foot, then twirl slowly on two flat feet like Hattie.
  • On page four, stop and ask “How can Hattie dance?” before you turn the page.
  • On the game page, let your child say the words as the dancers move: “Wobble… twirl!”
Start reading