Listen, Hippo!
Hardcover – Picture Book, February 10, 2026
Penguin Young Readers Group · Hardcover · February 10, 2026
A wise and beautiful picture book that explores with gentle warmth and humor, the nature of feelings and the importance of being heard, perfect for fans of The Rabbit Listened.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- Billy’s tangled feelings meet a friend’s well-meant fixes—and, eventually, room to talk.
- Themes
- Processing feelings, Listening and being heard, Supportive friendship
- Genres
- Big Feelings, Friendship, Hippos & Rhinos
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genre: Friendship.
Little Polar Bear Finds a FriendHans de Beer57% match
No Bunnies Here!Tammi Sauer59% match
The Rabbit ListenedCori Doerrfeld67% matchAlso shares Big Feelings
Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a HorseMarcy Campbell67% match
Ollie's HugOlivier Dunrea67% matchAlso shares Big Feelings
Big FeelingsAlexandra Penfold65% matchAlso shares Big Feelings
HogbertBriony May Smith65% match
What If, Pig?Linzie Hunter64% matchAlso shares Big Feelings
For older readers: Every Word You Cannot Say
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
A wise and beautiful picture book that explores with gentle warmth and humor, the nature of feelings and the importance of being heard, perfect for fans of The Rabbit Listened. Billy was having a sad day. His mind was jumping from one thought to another and his tummy felt like scrambled eggs with extra chili. He thought that talking about it might make him feel better, but his best friend, Hippo, had a few other ideas.
Continue reading
Dressing up always made Hippo feel better, so it must make Billy feel better too! When that doesn't work, Hippo tries everything from hunting for dinosaur footprints to building the world's largest sandcastle to throwing the best party. Hippo is so wrapped up in what makes him feel better that he doesn't realize that Billy may need something different and something as simple as a friend to talk to. So, Hippo sets up a cozy corner with hot chocolate and extra marshmallows and gives Billy the space to talk about all his feelings until the sadness becomes more of a distant echo. Australian author-illustrator Gabriel Evans has created a beautiful picture book that is perfect for fans of The Rabbit Listened and encourages readers both to process their feelings in ways that are most comfortable for them and that being a good friend can be as easy as listening.
Billy’s Sad Day
Billy’s tangled feelings meet a friend’s well-meant fixes—and, eventually, room to talk.
Come here for
- Hippo’s attempts to cheer Billy, from dressing up to building a sandcastle
- A cozy corner, hot chocolate, and space for Billy to talk
Expect
- Hippo’s favorite ways to feel better don’t suit Billy
- Listening becomes a simple way to support a friend
Where it sits
| Friendship | 73% |
|---|---|
| Big Feelings | 71% |
| Hippos & Rhinos | 65% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Hippos & Rhinos
- Big Feelings
- Friendship
- Authors
- Gabriel Evans
- Publisher
- Penguin Young Readers Group
- Published
- February 10, 2026
- Format
- Hardcover
- Theme
- Processing feelings · Listening and being heard · Supportive friendship
- Reading lane
- Hippos & Rhinos