2018
WISE Score
Amazon
Harrison is the ultimate 'close-talker' hippo who finally learns that his friends need a little breathing room.
4.7
4.7View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
Harrison P. Spader is a total win for parents dealing with a 'velcro child' or a kid who treats the playground like a mosh pit.
It’s a quick read, the art is great, and the 'Space Saver' rhyme actually sticks. It’s one of those rare 'teaching' books that doesn't feel like a lecture, making it a solid addition to the nightly rotation if your kid is currently struggling with the concept of a 'personal bubble.'
Perfect for the 3-to-7 crowd. It's especially useful for preschoolers and kindergartners who are still figuring out that not everyone wants a hug or a face-to-face shout at 8:00 AM.
It handles a common social friction point with humor and empathy rather than lecturing. Harrison isn't a 'bad' kid; he's just an enthusiastic hippo who loves his friends a little too closely.
The 'Space Saver' rhyme is a clever mnemonic, and Cale Atkinson’s illustrations give the characters a lot of personality, though the story follows a fairly standard 'problem-lesson-resolution' arc.
Completely safe. It's a modern picture book designed for classrooms and living rooms with zero red flags.
It provides a concrete, physical tool (the arm-span rhyme) that kids can actually use in the classroom or on the playground to visualize boundaries.
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