Birdbrain Amos

by Michael Delaney

Poor Amos! He hired a tick bird to eat the bugs off his back so he could be like all the other hippos. There’s just one problem. Kumba, his tick bird, takes it a bit too literally when Amos tells her to make herself at home. Now Amos has to walk around with a bird’s nest on his head, and he doesn’t like it one bit! To make matters worse, all of the other animals are making fun of him. What’s a hippo to do?

Genres: Juvenile

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2002

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amos needs a tick bird to ride on his back and eat bugs. Finallly, Kumba applies for the job — although she and Amos don’t communicate very well. Things start out well, but then Kumba, acting literally on the “make yourself at home” phrase, builds a nest between Amos’ ears. Other hippos make fun of Amos and are appalled, but Amos can’t quite bring himself to fire Kumba. Then, when the eggs hatch, 2 birds fly away and Amos is left with Amoeba, a young tick bird that seems to be just like his mom.

[Becky H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute and hilarious!! Me and my 5 year old really enjoyed it. I read her a few chapters each night. Even my husband laughed which is really saying something.

[Myrza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delaney, M.C. (2002). Birdbrain Amos. New York: Philomel Books. You will laugh throughout this humorous chapter book. The poor hippo needs help with a tick problem. He gets ideas from the other hippos to advertise for a bird, but fails to put what kind of bird and gets interesting candidates. The hippo finally hires a bird that he thinks is the right one, but soon finds himself in a whole other problem that has a wonderful lesson at the end.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amos hires an unusual tick bird who decides to build a nest on his head. Amos is shunned from the Hippo population but feels he can't expel the bird who has just laid eggs in the nest. Poor bumbling Amos is an endearing character. The type font is large, with lots of white space, and words and sentences are simple enough for a beginning reader who has made the switch to chapter books.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amos is a hippo without a tick bird to help him clean off parasites. When he finally gets a bird, misunderstandings lead to his becoming the laughingstock of the hippo community. Amos finds his way though and learns to be at peace with himself - and his bird friends.

[Dana Grimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a silly and cute book and great for a read aloud. Both my children enjoyed having me read it to them and we did it in one sitting because they never wanted it to stop. Great first chapter book.

[Ms. Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a silly and cute book and great for a read aloud. Both my children enjoyed having me read it to them and we did it in one sitting because they never wanted it to stop. Great first chapter book.

[Radine · Rating 3 out of 5]

i loved this book wen i was little(-er, y'know i'm only a dozen years old ;D)) and i still remember this book <333

[Alix Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a cute little hippo accepting not only himself but his friends and bird community around him. Good moral of the story!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun read for the end of the year... The kids loved the baby bird, Amoeba!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids always, always, always want a new animal book and I absolutely think this is adorable. What a quirky little find!