Rhinos Don’t Cry
Mark Grist and Chris Jevons
Bloomsbury Children’s Books


Milo is a lively life-loving little rhino but he has one small problem. This is on account of having watched his hero, movie star Spike-O Mcree on TV one evening announcing that despite upsetting things happening, ‘rhinos don’t cry!” As a consequence, Milo decides that crying is bad and that’s what he tells himself when something goes wrong. Until that is, he discovers that his beloved pet moggy Pickles has gone missing.

With Spiko’s words ringing in his ears, Milo holds back his tears as he helps his mum create signs to post in the neighbourhood. Instead of tears Milo gets an unpleasant feeling all through his body and it stays with him even when he and Mum go out to put up their signs.
Milo has just one sign left to post when he pauses outside the cinema and who should approach him but his movie star hero . Hard as he tries, Milo simply cannot hold his tears any longer; he sobs. This causes Spike-O Mcree to start crying too and Milo now feels bewildered at what he sees.

Having told his hero what he saw on TV just the previous night, the movie star explains that the film was made long back and he now feels completely differently about shedding tears. It can be a brave thing to do.


There they both stand crying together when there comes a familiar sound – not sobbing this time but something very welcome coming from not far away.


Great for opening up discussion, at home or in the classroom, this story has an important message: it’s fine to cry, whoever you are. Spike-O Mcree makes a great role model showing how being tough isn’t always tbe best response, as well as that you can shed tears when you’re sad or scared, but also when you’re happy. It certainly isn’t being weak.