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Find out moreA Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2018 Award-winning illustrator Helen Cooper’s debut novel is a richly imagined and cleverly crafted story perfectly matched by her own illustrations. ‘Come now or come never!’ reads the mysterious invitation that arrives with the milk one day. Despite his mother’s protest, Ben knows he must take up the challenge. Working with the diverse inhabitants of the museum, he finds himself caught up in a desperate struggle to save the whole place from the wicked developers. With an underlying plot about the mysterious disappearance of his father this is both a thoughtful and an exciting novel that will fire the imagination of all readers who, like Ben, have ever dared to believe that the animals in a museum might come alive.
Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for June 2018:
Mariella, Queen of the Skies by Eoin Colfer
Opposites by Roald Dahl
1, 2, 3 by Roald Dahl
The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
The Hippo at the End of the Hall by Helen Cooper
The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship by Philip Pullman
The invitation was delivered by bees. It wasn t addressed to anyone at all, but Ben knew it was for him. It would lead him to an old, shambolic museum, full of strange and bewitching creatures. A peculiar world of hidden mysteries and curious family secrets . . . and some really dangerous magic. Filled with her own wonderful illustrations, The Hippo at the End of the Hall is Helen Cooper's debut novel.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Lovereading4kids Reader Review Panel members were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can read their full reviews by clicking here.
A fantastical and dreamlike adventure - The Sunday Times
glorious first work of full-length fiction - Guardian
truly stunning...a pleasure to read - Books for Keeps
ISBN: | 9781910989760 |
Publication date: | 7th June 2018 |
Author: | Helen Cooper |
Publisher: | David Fickling Books |
Format: | Paperback |
Pagination: | 342 pages |
Suitable for: | 11+ readers, 9+ readers |
Genres: | Fantasy / Magical |
Recommendations: | Julia Eccleshare's Picks, eBooks, Reviewed by Children |
Helen Cooper’s childhood was spent in Cumbria, but she now lives in Oxford with her husband, Ted Dewan and young daughter. As well as being a highly talented artist, Helen is also a keen musician who studied music at college and worked as a music teacher before writing and illustrating full time.She has illustrated over fourteen books and her work has been translated into fifteen languages. Helen is the first ever author/illustrator to have won the Kate Greenaway Medal with two consecutive books.
More About Helen Cooper