What child, or even adult, has not felt the pain of rejection, being abandoned, being unloved, being made fun of, and all the other emotions of life and growing up? Is it not the wish of everyone that there is always hope for love, joy and happiness no matter what your circumstances or experiences? This is exactly what the story of Hippy, a beloved baby hippo, tells us through his trials of being swept away from his home only to be thrust into zoo life. It is in this setting he finds such despair, then hope, then love and happiness through a magical wish. Sometimes it is our dreams and wishes that help us find the path that sets us free from the emotional bondage that life sometimes deals us. All ages delight in the story of Hippy. There are many real-life lessons that the story tells young and old.