Reviewed by Jack Magnus (FIVE STARS)

Harvey Hippo Wants to Fly! is an animal adventure book for children ages 3 to 8, written by Lisa Sankar-Zhu. Harvey is a young hippo who is determined to fly, and his parents can't seem to figure why he would feel that way. No matter how hard he tries to fly, nothing works for him -- not flapping his arms nor jumping up and flapping his arms and legs. A little bird flew by and told Harvey that he didn't have wings and needed them to fly. Harvey was thrilled to have a problem that he could solve with a little bit of work, and he soon got busy designing and building a pair of wings. They were intricate and detailed, and they looked just like they were supposed to, but no matter how hard Harvey flapped those wings, he was still bound to the earth. What was he to do? He had a really good reason to want to fly, and when he finally told his mom, she suggested that he figure out another way to realize his dreams.

However is a hippo to fly anyway? Lisa Sankar-Zhu's young hippo, Harvey, is determined to find out in Harvey Hippo Wants to Fly! This book is a visual feast as the reader follows the exuberant hippo in his attempts to challenge gravity. I especially loved the facial expressions on his and the other animals' faces, the landscape drawings showing the house and lands where the hippos live and the constant movement and action implied in the artist's colorful and masterful renderings of the tale. Sankar-Zhu's story builds suspense from page to page as the reader can't help but wonder what Harvey will design or build next, and the story is told in language that is as perfect for new readers as it is for story hour for the younger set. I loved the message of this tale with its positive spin and emphasis on imagination and creativity. I'm looking forward to more adventures from this creative and aspiring young hippo. Harvey Hippo Wants to Fly! is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer (FIVE STARS)

Harvey Hippo Wants to Fly by Lisa Sankar-Zhu is a fun and awfully cute story of a Hippo who wants to fly, and he is not afraid of taking chances. He is a strong and determined little Hippo, who will go to any lengths to do what he wants and he is quite resourceful too. His friends help him and he fulfills his desires through his hard work and sheer determination.

The story itself is very encouraging and entertaining. Harvey is shown as a cute little Hippo, who loves adventure and is not afraid to work to get what he wants. He is shown creating things with the help of adults and his mom, which is a good thing. The illustrations are just simply perfect. They fit the characters so well and I believe the illustrations will make this book extra enjoyable for young readers. It would certainly make for a great bedtime story.

The text in the book is rhythmic, which can be sung in a singsong voice (trust me, I tried it with great results from my nephew). My young nephew loved this book and he actually started to plan a little car of his own with cardboard boxes. I think this book would be great for those kids who like a little adventure. And I am pretty sure that parents would like their children to spend less time on their laptops and tablets and more time exploring the world outside. This is perhaps the best children’s book I have read this year so far!

Harvey Hippo Wants to Fly by Lisa Sankar-Zhu is the story of a hippo called Harvey who badly wanted to fly. No one could understand why he so badly wanted to fly, but he did not let that discourage him. Harvey tried and tried, but he just could not get off the ground. When others saw him try and fail, they gave him advice, but none of it seemed to work. He got advice from a bird, a hedgehog, and even an ostrich, but all in vain. In the end, Harvey got discouraged that, after all the hard work he had put in, he would never be able to fly. However, just when he was about to give up, someone wise and trusted came along and made him think even harder for another solution.

Harvey Hippo Wants to Fly by Lisa Sankar-Zhu is an inspiring story about dreams, hard work and never giving up. Lisa Sankar-Zhu put together an exciting and educational story that kids will love and in a style that will be appealing to them. The kids will find the melodic style very engaging and the colorful illustrations will help them visualize Harvey's story even more. There are endless lessons for kids in Harvey's story about hard work, resilience and seeking advice. When we tell friends about our plans and seek the advice of our elders, we will get new ideas and new ways to achieve our seemingly impossible goals. I hope that from reading about all the hard work Harvey put into his dream, kids will be inspired by his never-give-up attitude so they learn to never let failure discourage them from working hard to achieve their own dreams.