The Recommended Reading Path
Aaron Zenz is a master of whimsical wordplay, interactive storytelling, and vibrant colored-pencil illustrations. Because his books are picture books designed for read-alouds and early readers, there is no strict chronological plot continuity connecting them. However, starting with his most famous companion books and moving through thematic pairings provides the most rewarding reading experience for children.
We recommend starting with Zenz's breakout bestseller, The Hiccupotamus, and immediately following it up with its direct companion, The Chimpansneeze. From there, you can explore his educational animal wordplay books, his festive seasonal reads, and his interactive bedtime stories. This path ensures young readers build familiarity with Zenz's signature style, which relies heavily on silly rhyme schemes, repetitive phrases, and interactive guessing games.
The Hiccupotamus and Friends Companion Series
While most of Zenz's books stand alone, two of his most popular titles function as direct companions, sharing the same style, structure, and animal-centered slapstick humor.
The Hiccupotamus (2005)
This is Aaron Zenz's most famous and beloved work, selling over a million copies. The story follows an unfortunate hippopotamus who cannot shake a severe case of the hiccups, causing accidental chaos for his surrounding friends, including an elephant and a centipede. The text is famous for its playful, custom-invented rhymes (such as rhyming "hiccupotamus" with "hippopotamus" and pairing "buffalo" with "fluffalo"). It serves as the absolute best starting point for any reader new to Zenz's work.
The Chimpansneeze (2012)
Serving as the direct companion to his debut, this book applies a similar cumulative, rhyming structure to a new medical mishap: a chimpanzee who is about to let out a massive sneeze. As the tension builds, a cast of animal friends tries to intervene, leading to a hilarious, chaotic climax. Reading these two books back-to-back allows children to compare the repetitive structures and predict the silly outcomes.
The Animal Wordplay and Parenting Celebration Books
Zenz has written three books that focus on family connections, animal terminology, and playful puns. These are excellent for early educational development, introducing children to unique vocabulary while celebrating parental relationships.
Chuckling Ducklings and Baby Animal Friends (2011)
This rhythmic book introduces young readers to the specific, proper names of baby animals. While children will recognize puppies and kittens, Zenz also introduces more unusual terms such as "cria" (baby llama), "puggle" (baby echidna), and "leveret" (baby hare). The bouncing verses make learning collective nouns and juvenile animal names engaging and memorable.
I Love Ewe: An Ode to Animal Moms (2013)
An adorable, pun-heavy celebration of mothers. Built around the central homophone of "ewe" and "you," this book explores the names of maternal animal figures across a variety of species, from geese to kangaroos. It is a popular read-aloud choice for Mother's Day and helps children practice basic wordplay and homophones.
Hug a Bull: An Ode to Animal Dads (2013)
The perfect companion to I Love Ewe, this title celebrates fathers and male role models. Using similar clever animal wordplay (including the title's pun on "hugable"), the story highlights the names of animal fathers and encourages kids to express affection. These two books are best read as a set to compare how Zenz adapts the same linguistic concepts for different family members.
Standalone Whimsical Adventures
These self-contained stories showcase Zenz's ability to tackle common childhood themes—like bedtime routines, holidays, and overcoming fear—with a unique, humorous spin.
Monsters Go Night-Night (2016)
This interactive bedtime book turns the typical evening routine upside down. Instead of brushing their teeth with toothpaste or cuddling a teddy bear, a cast of seven quirky monsters do things their own way (like brushing with mud or cuddling a bucket of slime). The book is structured as a guessing game, prompting children to look at the illustrations and predict what silly choice the monsters will make next. It is highly recommended for bedtime reading to ease transitional anxiety through humor.
Porcupine Valentine (2016)
A sweet, seasonal story focused on friendship and thoughtfulness. The main character, Porcupine, wants to deliver handmade valentines to his forest friends, but his sharp quills present an accidental obstacle. It is a gentle story that teaches children about empathy, overcoming physical differences, and finding creative ways to show affection.
Little Iffy Learns to Fly (2017)
This book tackles the universal theme of overcoming fear. Little Iffy is a griffin who, unlike his brave peers, is terrified of flying because he worries that once he goes up, he might never come back down. With the help of his supportive friends, Iffy learns to take his first steps into the air. Notably, the book utilizes colored fonts for key words like "up" and "down," serving as a visual reading aid for emerging readers.
Complete Chronological Publication Order
- The Hiccupotamus (2005) - A rhyming tale of a hippo whose hiccups disrupt his jungle neighbors.
- Chuckling Ducklings and Baby Animal Friends (2011) - A rhythmic introduction to the proper names of baby animals.
- The Chimpansneeze (2012) - A companion to Zenz's debut, featuring a sneeze-prone chimpanzee.
- I Love Ewe: An Ode to Animal Moms (2013) - A pun-filled celebration of mothers using maternal animal names.
- Hug a Bull: An Ode to Animal Dads (2013) - A companion book celebrating fathers through clever animal wordplay.
- Monsters Go Night-Night (2016) - An interactive bedtime guessing game featuring silly monsters.
- Porcupine Valentine (2016) - A heartwarming Valentine's Day story about friendship and empathy.
- Little Iffy Learns to Fly (2017) - A gentle tale of a young griffin overcoming his fear of heights.
What to Know Before You Start
Aaron Zenz is both an author and an illustrator, and his artistic process is deeply connected to his storytelling. He is widely known for using colored pencils to create rich, heavily layered textures that give his characters a soft, tactile quality. Parents and educators can enhance the reading experience by pointing out these hand-drawn textures and encouraging children to try drawing their own versions of the characters.
Additionally, Zenz is a father of six and frequently collaborates with his children on creative projects. His books are explicitly designed to be read aloud, utilizing strong cadences, repetitive refrains, and visual cues that help young children participate in the reading process before they are fully literate. There are no reading order disagreements, so feel free to pick up whichever book matches your child's current interests or the current season.