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Why Hippos have no hair
Basilio Gimo
Carol Liddiment
English
One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.
Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.
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 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!"
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."
Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, "Whoosh!" Fire burst into flame.

The flames began to burn Hippo's 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!"
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.
You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
Why Hippos have no hair
Author - Basilio Gimo and David Ker
Illustration - Carol Liddiment
Language - English
Level - First paragraphs
© Little Zebra Books 2014
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
Original source http://www.littlezebrabooks.com/.
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  • Translations and adaptations
    • Hoekom Seekoeie nie Hare het nie
      Afrikaans (Translation)
    • The Lembe Muketho Rau Yuk Wiye Ope
      Alur (Translation)
    • لماذا لاتملك أفراس النهرشعرا
      Arabic (Translation)
    • Inyobo Eyinakit Imiriai Emameete Kede Ka Ajul?
      Ateso (Translation)
    • Sulo adayanya uxamwali na Moto
      Cinyungwe (Translation)
    • Digongo-Ci Ndomondo Sidi Syangadi Manyunya
      Ciyawo (Adaptation)
    • Nthowa Taani Achomoco Ahiraayano Mapururu?
      Elomwe (Translation)
    • Why Hippos have no hair (Colour-in)
      English (Adaptation)
    • Kutheni iimvubu zingenaboya nje
      isiXhosa (Translation)
    • Batsha uboya bukaMvubu!
      isiXhosa (Adaptation)
    • Kungani uMvubu engenaboya?
      isiZulu (Translation)
    • Kubera iki imvubu zitagira ubwoya
      Kinyarwanda (Translation)
    • Kwa nini viboko hawana manyoya
      Kiswahili (Translation)
    • Lwaki envubu tezirina bwoya
      Luganda (Translation)
    • Ròbí Yɨ Mà 'bɨ́ko Yo À'dɨ E'yósɨ̀à Rɨ̀
      Lugbarati (Official) (Translation)
    • Lwasiina tsifubu tsitamba bubwooya
      Lumasaaba (Translation)
    • Lwaki wanvubu azira bwoya
      Lusoga (Translation)
    • Ra Robi Olujo Biako Rii Adu?
      Ma'di (Translation)
    • Kainyoo Pee Meata Olmakau Ilpapit
      Maa (Translation)
    • Nyonte Emakar Epir Ng’Itim
      Ng’aturkana (Translation)
    • Eshichira Ifubu Niibula Amoya
      Oluwanga (Translation)
    • چرا کرگدن ها مو ندارند
      Persian (Afghanistan) (Translation)
    • O Coelho Faz Amizade Com o Fogo
      Portuguese (Translation)
    • Habwaki Ensere Tizigira Bwoya?
      Rutooro (Translation)
    • Goreng boKubu ba sena moriri
      Setswana (Translation)
    • Kungani Imvubu Ingena Tinwele
      siSwati (Translation)
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