Harvey the Hippo: A Story About Being Yourself (Ages 3-8)

Kitty and Dino Help Harvey the Hippo book cover

Book in the Kitty & Dino series · Ages 3 to 8

Harvey is a hippo who loves ballet.

A story about doing what you love, even when you don’t look like everyone else who does it.

Ages 3 to 8
Theme inclusiveness
Length one cozy bedtime
Paperback & Kindle
Free with Kindle Unlimited

Written by a dad for his own son.

The true story behind it

My son went through a phase where his favorite thing in the world was his toy kitchen. He wanted to be a chef. Then one day at school, some boys teased him that cooking is “a woman’s job.” He came home stung. So I wrote Harvey, a hippo who loves ballet, even though hippos aren’t exactly built for it. The message I wanted him to hear: you get to love what you love, and do it your own way, no matter who says it isn’t for you.

What happens in the story

Harvey adores ballet, but he keeps losing his balance and landing in a heap, and a few voices say a hippo has no business dancing. Kitty and Dino help him find a way to dance that fits him. It’s about making room for the kid who loves the “wrong” thing, and cheering them on instead.

Look inside

Flip through the opening pages of the book.

Can a hippo as big as Harvey really become a ballet dancer?

The rest of the story is in the book.

Drag a page corner, or tap the arrows

Perfect for

✓ The kid who loves something others say isn’t “for them”
✓ Gently pushing back on “boys do this, girls do that”
✓ Talking about inclusiveness and chasing your own dream
✓ A birthday gift for a kid marching to their own beat

Quick answers

What is Kitty and Dino Help Harvey the Hippo about?

A hippo who loves ballet and learns to do it his own way, even though he doesn’t look like a dancer. A gentle story about inclusiveness, for ages 3 to 8.

What age is it for?

Ages 3 to 8.

What lesson does it teach?

That you get to love what you love and do it your own way, regardless of who says it isn’t for you.

Where can I get it?

On Amazon, in paperback or Kindle. The buttons on this page go straight there.

Cheer on the kid who loves the “wrong” thing

One short story. One ballet-dancing hippo. Ready for tonight.

Get Harvey the Hippo →

Choosing a gift? See our Book Gifts guide for ages 3–8 →