What do you think?
Rate this book
Hilda Must Be Dancing
Swisha-swisha
Clap! Clap!
Jump,
Jump,
Jump!
"Hilda must be dancing!"
Hilda Hippo loves to dance! But there's just one problem. When Hilda dances, it sounds like
Ka-bump! Ka-bump!
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Thumpity-bump!
Thumpity-bump!
Boom!
Bang!
Bash!
The other animals beg her to find a quieter hobby. Knitting? Singing?
For Hilda, nothing else will do. What could possible be as fun as dancing?
Clap! Clap!
Jump,
Jump,
Jump!
"Hilda must be dancing!"
Hilda Hippo loves to dance! But there's just one problem. When Hilda dances, it sounds like
Ka-bump! Ka-bump!
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Thumpity-bump!
Thumpity-bump!
Boom!
Bang!
Bash!
The other animals beg her to find a quieter hobby. Knitting? Singing?
For Hilda, nothing else will do. What could possible be as fun as dancing?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 2004
4 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Karma Wilson
105 books523 followersKarma Wilson grew up an only child of a single mother in the wilds of North Idaho. Way back then (just past the stone age and somewhat before the era of computers) there was no cable TV and if there had been Karma could not have recieved it. TV reception was limited to 3 channels, of which one came in with some clarity. Karma did the only sensible thing a lonely little girl could do…she read or played outdoors.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 27, 2019
This is a story about a hippo who is tearing up the jungle and disturbing all of the animals with her dancing. It is very cute. Simple rhyming pattern. Great descriptive words for the sounds Hilda's dancing makes.
August 20, 2024
Hilda the Hippo's dancing is disturbing her animal neighbors! This was a great interactive book for my Storytime kiddos to stomp, twirl, and dance to. It's colorful, has nice descriptive language, and is just fun all around.
May 18, 2021
I love this book for the great rhymes, the chance to do some thumpety thump movements with the kiddo, and the fact that this hippo is gonna do what she wants and no water buffalo is gonna stop her.
September 26, 2023
I read this last week for a dance themed story-time and it was a HIT. Hilda is a hippo who LOVES to dance. The only problem is...she makes a LOT of noise. SO many fun noises to make and silly illustrations.
January 12, 2013
(Mommy's review from 4/11)
I really, really like this author. Julia does too. When I told her who the author was she got visibly excited. That makes me so happy!
This is just what I've come to expect from Karma Wilson and that pleases me to no end. We read this twice, back to back, and will read it again to be sure, because it's just so much fun.
Hilda is a totally awesome character and the same can be said for all of her animal friends!
Suzanne Watts gets extra attention for the bright and wonderful illustrations that match the story beautifully! My daughter and I both laughed all over the place about Hilda and that giant rear she carried (I should say *danced*) around!
The text is just how we like it with perfect rhymes that flow along just as perfect as can be. We're going to read every single book Wilson has out and I'm going to get the entire collection for Julia to keep. I hardly ever actually buy, from a bookstore, any book. Especially not one already read. These are awesome and so worth collecting IMO!
I really, really like this author. Julia does too. When I told her who the author was she got visibly excited. That makes me so happy!
This is just what I've come to expect from Karma Wilson and that pleases me to no end. We read this twice, back to back, and will read it again to be sure, because it's just so much fun.
Hilda is a totally awesome character and the same can be said for all of her animal friends!
Suzanne Watts gets extra attention for the bright and wonderful illustrations that match the story beautifully! My daughter and I both laughed all over the place about Hilda and that giant rear she carried (I should say *danced*) around!
The text is just how we like it with perfect rhymes that flow along just as perfect as can be. We're going to read every single book Wilson has out and I'm going to get the entire collection for Julia to keep. I hardly ever actually buy, from a bookstore, any book. Especially not one already read. These are awesome and so worth collecting IMO!
October 18, 2014
This was a very creative both in rhyming, almost singing, storylines and the bright colorful illustrations! It was a fun book for both my 2 year old granddaughter to sit and listen and look and fun for me to read to her. We giggled through most of it.
Hilda is a hippo in the jungle. She has many friends, however because she is so big when she dances the others are all affected. They each try and find something else for her to do to but she doesn't 'take' to any of them. UNTIL one recommends her to swim and she combines her dance with the swim and the jungle doesn't shake or make noise. Everyone is happy... a fun beautiful book.
Hilda is a hippo in the jungle. She has many friends, however because she is so big when she dances the others are all affected. They each try and find something else for her to do to but she doesn't 'take' to any of them. UNTIL one recommends her to swim and she combines her dance with the swim and the jungle doesn't shake or make noise. Everyone is happy... a fun beautiful book.
March 26, 2010
Karma Wilson's books are a blast to read aloud!
May 2, 2021
Title: Hilda Must Be Dancing
Author: Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Suzanna Watts
Genre: Fiction
Theme(s): Animals, Singing, Dancing, Art
Opening line/sentence:
“Hilda Hippo loved to dance and so each day she practiced hard.”
Brief Book Summary:
Hilda Hippo loves to dancer throughout the jungle but unfortunately the other jungle animals are not amused by Hilda’s dancing. Hilda continues to dance throughout the jungle because of the joy it brings her, and other jungle friends share other ways Hilda could express herself happily.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
In the reviews from Recorded Books and Phyllis Kennemer, they both focus on how this book took the opportunity to turn away stereotypes of body types and hobbies. Instead of using a small animal who resembles flexibility and strength, they used a larger animal (a hippo) and showed that anyone and everyone has the ability to express themselves and do the things that they love.
Tell Me Framework:
Like(s): Even though many animals tried to bring Hilda down, she continued to smile and do what she loved to do.
Dislike(s): I do not like how the book bring negative attention on the bigger animal. In the book it shows the sound effects of Hilda’s dancing where it almost seems that the book is indicating the weight of Hilda.
Patterns(s): Hilda Hippos dances all through the jungle.
Puzzle(s): What are some of the other animals’ hobbies?
Consideration of Instructional Application:
In the classroom, the teacher can read this book to the students when introducing the topic of doing things that make you happy. For an activity, the teacher can go around the classroom and ask the children to share what they do when they are feeling happy. To further the activity, the teacher can ask the children to draw out what they say.
Author: Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Suzanna Watts
Genre: Fiction
Theme(s): Animals, Singing, Dancing, Art
Opening line/sentence:
“Hilda Hippo loved to dance and so each day she practiced hard.”
Brief Book Summary:
Hilda Hippo loves to dancer throughout the jungle but unfortunately the other jungle animals are not amused by Hilda’s dancing. Hilda continues to dance throughout the jungle because of the joy it brings her, and other jungle friends share other ways Hilda could express herself happily.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
In the reviews from Recorded Books and Phyllis Kennemer, they both focus on how this book took the opportunity to turn away stereotypes of body types and hobbies. Instead of using a small animal who resembles flexibility and strength, they used a larger animal (a hippo) and showed that anyone and everyone has the ability to express themselves and do the things that they love.
Tell Me Framework:
Like(s): Even though many animals tried to bring Hilda down, she continued to smile and do what she loved to do.
Dislike(s): I do not like how the book bring negative attention on the bigger animal. In the book it shows the sound effects of Hilda’s dancing where it almost seems that the book is indicating the weight of Hilda.
Patterns(s): Hilda Hippos dances all through the jungle.
Puzzle(s): What are some of the other animals’ hobbies?
Consideration of Instructional Application:
In the classroom, the teacher can read this book to the students when introducing the topic of doing things that make you happy. For an activity, the teacher can go around the classroom and ask the children to share what they do when they are feeling happy. To further the activity, the teacher can ask the children to draw out what they say.
September 27, 2019
I liked this book and I didn't like this book. I loved this book that Hilda loved to dance and she kept dancing for a long time until she discovered water ballet dancing. But I really didn't like it because all the rest of the animals kept wanting her to stop dancing because she was loud and shook the ground. I mean how loud could a hippo really be when a hippo danced?! Think of all the noise in a jungle or on the plains of Africa. There seemed to be some weight shaming going on in this book and I really didn't like that! Surely the other animals have more important things to do than worry about and complain about a hippo dancing. That said the pictures were happy and joyous and bright. Interesting too how it's a female that is weight-shamed and not a male.
Talking points - have you ever not done something you wanted to do because because of your weight or because people complained about your weight? Tell me about it? How did that feel? Have you ever discouraged someone from doing something because of their weight or because it inconvenienced you? If so, if you could do it again, would you discourage them again? Is there any one you would like to apologize to for weight shaming them? Should we ever live life less big and less bold because of our weight?
Essential Oil Pairing Tip - I'd suggest diffusing doTERRA's Citrus Bliss uplifting blend while reading this book because it has bergamot essential oil in it and bergamot is The Oil of Self Love. And if you are going to keep doing what you enjoy despite what others are saying you are going to need a lot of self-love.
Talking points - have you ever not done something you wanted to do because because of your weight or because people complained about your weight? Tell me about it? How did that feel? Have you ever discouraged someone from doing something because of their weight or because it inconvenienced you? If so, if you could do it again, would you discourage them again? Is there any one you would like to apologize to for weight shaming them? Should we ever live life less big and less bold because of our weight?
Essential Oil Pairing Tip - I'd suggest diffusing doTERRA's Citrus Bliss uplifting blend while reading this book because it has bergamot essential oil in it and bergamot is The Oil of Self Love. And if you are going to keep doing what you enjoy despite what others are saying you are going to need a lot of self-love.
Read
December 6, 2021I found this book to be very delightful! Hilda Hippo has a joyful pleasure dancing her heart out, however her friends find it distracting they suggested she find different hobbies, for instance singing, sowing, or swimming. Hilda Hippo fell in love with swimming in the river because she was able to move about feeling as light as a feather. I love the “do what makes you happy” message it may leave some readers with. Additionally, the rhymes and generally silly theme creates a playful and fun environment for youthful children eager to read a long.
October 29, 2019
The rhythmic and onomatopoeia-rich language of this book are ideal for reading aloud, though it made me feel kind of squeamish that Hilda was essentially being fat-shamed for shaking the ground while she danced. That being said, she persistently does what she loves and doesn't really have any time of day for her annoyed friends, so ultimately the book feels more empowering than not.
Themes: Dancing; Be Yourself; Animals
Themes: Dancing; Be Yourself; Animals
May 16, 2018
This is one of my favorite read-alouds! Karma Wilson's books are all pretty good, but I especially love this one. The rhythm and rhyme are excellent, as is the onomatopoeia. It's just super fun to read aloud. And the story and pictures are great too. Use it in a storytime about dancing, hippos, or following your dreams!
December 11, 2019
Tango, Disco, Rumba... Hilda loves dancing tho it's a bit much for her friends. This cute book has some decent rhyming words, and could be shortened for a storytime read aloud. Fun book that I think would be perfect for a dancing/active storytime.
Focus on print motivation, phonological awareness, gross motor skills, or background knowledge.
Focus on print motivation, phonological awareness, gross motor skills, or background knowledge.
November 18, 2016
Hilda the hippo loves to dance but her forest friends don't really like it. She makes lots of noise and the ground shakes. They try to distract her with other forms of activities till they find swimming. A hit. 3 to 5 age group.
December 21, 2017
Absolutely perfect for story time: clear and colorful illustrations, sing-song rhyming text, lots of onomatopoeia, and here and there a giggle! This one fits a dancing, jungle, friendship, rhinoceros, or "follow your passions" theme. Highly recommended.
January 17, 2025
Dancing is Hilda's favorite thing to do. However whenever she dances she makes a loud racket bothering her jungle animal friends. In turn they suggest other hobbies for her to try. She soon discover water ballet dancing.
March 3, 2025
Hilda loves to dance, much to the other safari animals' chagrin. She makes a mess everywhere she goes. She tries other hobbies at the suggestion of the other animals, but nothing is quite as good as dancing. Fun illustrations.
July 28, 2017
Fun story with lots of onomatopoeia and colorful illustrations about doing what you like to do best.
August 30, 2017
Too long for storytime. I do really like the Rumba and Disco outfits.
April 16, 2018
A wonderful movement book!
April 19, 2018
Meh..... Similar to Giraffes Can't Dance, which is a MUCH better story.
April 19, 2018
Love it. This would be great for a preschool storytime. I think all the sound effects would be especially fun.
May 23, 2019
cute story about finding your groove and not bothering your neighbors, works well in a storytime of dancing animals: Giraffes Can't Dance and Dancing Feet.
June 20, 2020
A fun book about all the different types of dancing, and how anyone can dance!
December 22, 2020
Sweet, funny, joyful.
February 3, 2021
For: hippo lovers; readers looking for a silly book about the love of dance.
Possible red flags: animals in distress.
Possible red flags: animals in distress.
June 17, 2021
Hahahahaha adorable!!!
Read
December 22, 2021Meh
July 27, 2022
Adults loved this book. Great rhymes, funny story. My two year old was nonplussed but I hope she comes around because it’s a really fun book to read aloud!
December 10, 2022
Cute story that has lots of fun sounding phrases. Adorable illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews