Veronica

Veronica

by Roger Duvoisin

Veronica is your average hippopotamus with a big she wants to become famous. But with so many hippopotamuses wallowing in the cool mud and swimming and splashing in the clear water along the riverbank, it’s more difficult to stand out than one might think. So Veronica does what any determined young mammal would she sets off to find her fortune in the nearby pink-and-white city. If she were the only hippopotamus, everyone would surely take notice, and it would be marvelous—or would it?

Many miles from the cool, muddy riverbank, the men and women of the pink-and-white city stare at Veronica, bump into her with their cars, and shout angrily when she steps on their toes. In the city, Veronica is not only conspicuous—she is very much in the way! Mishaps befall her at every turn. While taking a curbside nap, she is issued a warning for stopping traffic.  When she bathes in the public fountain, the townspeople cluck unsympathetically. At the farmers’ market, Veronica is unused to city manners and helps herself happily to an entire cart of fresh, delicious vegetables—including the paper bags. When a policeman is called to capture the hungry hippo, Veronica decides that the city is not the place for a hippopotamus. But the hustle and bustle of city life is not the only surprise to come from Veronica’s big journey. When she returns home to the riverbank, she finds her dream has come true after all. From that day forward, Veronica is famous among the hippopotamuses, who gather each day at sunset to hear about her adventures in the pink-and-white city.

Originally published in the 1960s, Veronica by Caldecott Medal–winning author and illustrator Roger Duvoisin is the most recent addition to the Bodleian Library’s newly minted children’s book imprint. For little readers with big dreams, it offers a timeless tale of the surprising places those dreams may take us.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Adventure, Class, Juvenile, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1961

About the author

Roger Antoine Duvoisin (August 28, 1900 – June 1980) was a Swiss-born American writer and illustrator, best known for children's picture books. He won the 1948 Caldecott Medal for picture books and in 1968 he was a highly commended runner-up for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award for children's illustrators.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story with lovely illustrations of a hippopotamus called Veronica. Veronica has a big personality and longs to be the centre of attention. She makes her way into the city and finds she becomes just that, unfortunately this also leads to her arrest. Luckily a lovely old lady comes along and pays for the damage she has done and when Veronica says she wants to go home, the old lady hires a removal van to give her a lift. When she gets home she enjoys being the centre of attention with all the tales she has to tell.

I got my copy from the library but this is also available to read on Open Library.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veronica is tired of being inconspicuous so sets off for the big city. She’s certainly conspicuous there - getting in the way of vehicles, bumping into things, swimming in the fountain and eating things she shouldn’t. It’s off to jail for her - or is it?

The pictures sure liven up this funny story. If you can find this book, it’s worth the read!

Ages: 3 - 9

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

how can you deny love for a hippo that wants to be famous?

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

just another hippo in the city

[Jennifer B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and can easily see how it's a classic. We need more female hippo protagonists!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to love a picture book that repeatedly uses the words CONSPICUOUS and INCONSPICUOUS.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it, but not as colorful as I usually go for.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would die for you veronica

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teaches the word "conspicuous."

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fitting in versus being unique, and even famous. Oboy!

Either way, most of us have had some difficulty or other regarding too much or not enough.

In this storybook, Veronica is the one who fits in too well. According to the author:

She was a most inconspicuous hippopotamus because
she lived with so many
mother and father hippopotamuses
uncle and aunt hippopotamuses,
brother and sister hippopotamus,
cousin hippopotamus,
so many that no one even knew Veronica was there.

For that reason she goes somewhere where she will stand out, a city.

MOSTLY THIS TALE TEACHES THAT THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

For the intended readers of this book, you may enjoy the lengths to which the author and illustrator elaborated on this allegory. Plus, there can be many reasons why people of any age feel overlooked and ignored and not special

For the sake of the intended readers, I'll give this book FIVE STARS. However, in comments below I have something about the premise of this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

In another mood I'd probably give this LFL find 4 stars. Conspicuous and famous are not synonymous. And how lovely the ending - the old lady helps Veronica get out of jail and back home, instead of sending her to a zoo like happens in other old picture-books. I also appreciated that the hippo and the people could not talk to each other--another creative difference compared to other old picture-books. I will look for the sequels!

[Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give it four stars but how the old lady save Veronica doesn’t sound so convincing. So, three stars. Overall, a funny little story about an “inconspicuous” hippo going to town and later became “conspicuous” among her hippo clan.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about a hippo who moves to the city to become famous, and has lots of adventures. It's great fun, and very well illustrated.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s cute but Veronica seems like a wannabe social media influencer who gets bailed out of bad behavior by a rich relative 😆

[Stephanie Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/3. Another animal in the city, it feels like it came out of that generation and there was no place for her to fit.

[Brian Drew]

this book is about a hippo that didn't like living in the forest so she tried to go fit in inside the city and it worked for a little bit but then people started to make fun of her so she moved back to the forest and fell back in love with it

I liked this book because it shows that just because people might not always talk to you doesn't mean that they don't like you

I would use this book to help teach kids that people do like them no matter what

[Dest · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that will teach kiddos the meaning of the word "conspicuous." Veronica is a hippopotamus who lives among other hippopotamuses in obscurity. She longs for attention, so she travels to a city fully of people, where she'll stand out. Unfortunately, she also gets in some trouble with the law, so a kind old lady bails her out and sends her back to the other hippopotamuses. But don't be sad for Veronica, her city trip lends her the glamor she desired in the first place.

[Emily Goodin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is would be very easy for kids to relate to. There are many kids that feel like they blend into a the background-especially in a classroom. This book had a lot of big words in it, so it would be most appropriate for the upper grades. The lesson here would be that everyone is special in their own way-they just have to find an appropriate way to express themselves.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veronica is a book that tells a story of a hippopotamus who makes her way into a city. This book can be challenging for students bc it introduces many new vocabulary words such as conspicuous. I liked the illustrations in this book bc they altered from color to black and white (something I have never seen before).

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet story and I chose it for a child to read independently. Veronica longs for adventure so she leaves her family but her journey isn't easy and leads her to realize that she belongs with her family on the mud bank. This is a good book for first graders.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hippo looking to be noticed realizes she must leave her family and head to the city to finally stand out. Loved the loose and expressive illustrations. But like many old children's books, the story may be too wordy and clunky for many kids today.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expletive awesome book about a hippopotamus.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best part about this book is that there are TWO STORIES IN ONE - flip it over and there's a story about three little horses that is ridiculously fantastic.

[Jamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

what i'm learning about myself is that i really like drawings of hippos. weird.

[Rose]

E Duv

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book with some humor, as well as interesting illustrations. It also introduces some new vocabulary words with is great!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, but delightful. I love that the vocabulary is well above reading level and yet accessible at the same time.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book! Roger Duvoisin is both the author and illustrator.


February 25, 2021: Enjoying the artwork of the author, Roger Duvoisin, let me to his books. This is such a charming book!