Filippo,
is a small hippopotamus completely different from all the others. Misunderstood, is eventually appreciated and imitated by his companions for his diversity.
It is widely recognised that animated reading, it’s extremely helpful for children with dyslexia problems.
This illustrations are part of a student Final Project for University of Trieste - Primary Education Sciences.
Starting from a simple storytelling and a main character, the educational project includes other activities which aim to help children between 6 and 8 years old. A relaxing palette and clear forms make the story simple and pleasant, as the reading itself should become for these future little readers.
When they were just born, the hippos started crawling along the sandy bank of the river. Filippo instead, immediately stood upright.
The more he grew, the less he descended on his four paws.
He could see things that no other hippopotamus had never seen before.
"I can see well beyond the bushes!" he said. But the others replied: "And what's your advantage?"
"I can see the fish from above!" said Filippo. "And So?" replied the other annoyed.
"I can reach the fruits of the trees raising a single arm!" he added. "You are the only strange one, here" they said.
Filippo was sad and very disappointed. So one day he decided to leave.
He had not made much progress when he met a monkey. "I can stand up!" he told proudly. "And I can see distant things!"
"I can stand on my head too." Said the monkey. "And I can hang myself by the tail!"
Filippo was amazed. "Can I learn that too?" he asked.
"Of course!" Answered the monkey. "You just need a little practice and a little help."
Filippo worked hard to learn the monkey’s tricks and the monkey seemed happy to help him.
When he finally learned to stand up on his head and hang himself by the tail, he proudly went back to the river bank. Watch!" He said. "I can stand up on my head!".
"And So?" The others did not know what to say back.
"And I can hang on with my tail!" Said Filippo. But they looked at him bored and repeated: "And So?"
Filippo was angry and disappointed and he decided to go back to the monkey. Walking away, he turned just for a moment and do you want to know what he saw? Here they are, all the others rolling on the ground trying to get on their heads and hang themselves by the tail!
Filippo smiled.
Life on the river bank has now changed forever.
