Listen, Hippo!

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.

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.

Author: Gabriel Evans
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Published: 02/10/2026
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 11.10h x 8.70w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9798217038732
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2025

About the Author
Gabriel Evans is a Western Australian children's book author and illustrator. Working primarily in watercolor and pencil, he creates books from a small studio on a big hill. Gabriel's books are published internationally in more than twelve countries and have been reviewed in The New York Times, translated into ten languages, and read on ABC Television's Play School.

Blue Flower by Sonya Hartnett, his first picture book with Penguin Random House, was shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year in 2022. His second picture book with Penguin, A Friend for George, was published in 2023, followed by Listen, Hippo!, released in 2024.