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Why hippos have no hair Why hippos have no hair ˈhwaɪ ˈhɪpoʊz ˈhæv ˈnoʊ ˈhɛɹ

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 2

Narrate full story

Autoplay story

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

ˈwən ˈdeɪ ˈɹæbət ˈwɑz ˈwɔkɪŋ ˈbaɪ ˈðə ˈɹɪvɝˌsaɪd

Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.

Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.

ˈhɪpoʊ ˈwɑz ˈðɛɹ ˈtu ˈɡoʊɪn ˈfɔɹ ˈeɪ ˈstɹoʊɫ ˈænd ˈitɪŋ ˈsəm ˈnaɪs ˈɡɹin ˈɡɹæs

Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot. Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”

Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot. Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”

ˈhɪpoʊ ˈdɪdən ˈsi ˈðæt ˈɹæbət ˈwɑz ˈðɛɹ ˈænd ˈʃi ˌæksəˈdɛnəɫi ˈstɛpt ˈɑn @rabbit’s ˈfʊt ˈɹæbət ˈstɑɹtɪd ˈskɹimɪŋ ˈæt ˈhɪpoʊ ˈju ˈhɪpoʊ ˈkænt ˈju ˈsi ˈðæt ˈjuɹ ˈstɛpɪŋ ˈɑn ˈmaɪ ˈfʊt

Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!” But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”

Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!” But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”

ˈhɪpoʊ əˈpɑɫəˌdʒaɪzd ˈtu ˈɹæbət ˈaɪm ˈsoʊ ˈsɑɹi ˈaɪ ˈdɪdən ˈsi ˈju ˈpɫiz fɝˈɡɪv ˈmi ˈbət ˈɹæbət ˈwʊdənt ˈɫɪsən ˈænd ˈhi ˈʃaʊtɪd ˈæt ˈhɪpoʊ ˈju ˈdɪd ˈðæt ˈɑn ˈpɝpəs ˈsəmˌdeɪ ˈjuɫ ˈsi ˈjuɹ ˈɡoʊɪn ˈtu ˈpeɪ

Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!” Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”

Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!” Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”

ˈɹæbət ˈwɛnt ˈtu ˈfaɪnd ˈfaɪɝ ˈænd ˈsɛd ˈɡoʊ ˈbɝn ˈhɪpoʊ ˈhwɛn ˈʃi ˈkəmz ˈaʊt ˈəv ˈðə ˈwɔtɝ ˈtu ˈit ˈɡɹæs ˈʃi ˈstɛpt ˈɑn ˈmi ˈfaɪɝ ˈænsɝd ˈnoʊ ˈpɹɑbɫəm ˈɹæbət ˈmaɪ ˈfɹɛnd ˈaɪɫ ˈdu ˈdʒəst ˈhwət ˈju ˈæsk

Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.

Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.

ˈɫeɪtɝ ˈhɪpoʊ ˈwɑz ˈitɪŋ ˈɡɹæs ˈfɑɹ ˈfɹəm ˈðə ˈɹɪvɝ ˈhwɛn ˈhwuʃ ˈfaɪɝ ˈbɝst ˈɪntu ˈfɫeɪm ˈðə ˈfɫeɪmz biˈɡæn ˈtu ˈbɝn @hippo’s ˈhɛɹ

Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire. Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”

Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire. Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”

ˈhɪpoʊ ˈstɑɹtɪd ˈtu ˈkɹaɪ ˈænd ˈɹæn ˈfɔɹ ˈðə ˈwɔtɝ ˈɔɫ ˈhɝ ˈhɛɹ ˈwɑz ˈbɝnd ˈɔf ˈbaɪ ˈðə ˈfaɪɝ ˈhɪpoʊ ˈkæpt ˈkɹaɪɪŋ ˈmaɪ ˈhɛɹ ˈhæz ˈbɝnd ˈɪn ˈðə ˈfaɪɝ ˈmaɪ ˈhɛɹ ˈɪz ˈɔɫ ˈɡɔn ˈmaɪ ˈbjutəfəɫ ˈhɛɹ

Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned. And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.

Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned. And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.

ˈɹæbət ˈwɑz ˈhæpi ˈðæt @hippo’s ˈhɛɹ ˈwɑz ˈbɝnd ˈænd ˈtu ˈðɪs ˈdeɪ ˈfɔɹ ˈfɪɹ ˈəv ˈfaɪɝ ˈðə ˈhɪpoʊ ˈnɛvɝ ˈɡoʊz ˈfɑɹ ˈfɹəm ˈðə ˈwɔtɝ

Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level 2
Source: Why hippos have no hair from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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