A curious true incident is incorporated into a pleasant glimpse of a Budapest family during WW II. Tibor describes Sunday outings, on Papa's day off from the paprika factory, to see the bridge over the Danube or visit the hippopotamuses at the zoo, where they thrive in the natural warm springs. But wartime shortages threaten hippos, even more than people, until Papa suggests feeding them straw, such as that in their own doormat; the hippos then survive the war's coldest winter by eating 9,000 straw hats and slippers contributed by loyal fans. The war is offstage here; what's of interest is the warm period picture of family and city, authentically portrayed in Knutson's adroitly sketched pencil and watercolor art. (Picture book. 4-9)
