This book is about a baby turtle who mother has died and the hippo comes in and steps in as his mother. Very touching book and it is a great read. ( )

I've read two non-fiction picture books about this animal pair, and enjoyed them. But I have to admit that I think this is my favorite, even though it's shelved as fiction in my library. See, the others didn't try to guess *why* Owen latched onto Mzee. This one, especially because of the warm, loving, pictures, makes it clear that the bond between the animals makes perfect sense. Beautiful book, in every respect. ( )

This is a good example of a picture book/fiction because it relates back to the 2004 tsunami in Indian Ocean that separates hippopotamus family. He tries to find his mother but does find a new friend tortoise to snuggle with. They never find his mother and stay together. It is a sweet story that shows children how things like tsunami affect our animals and their living environments. The illustrations are great. They are soft and show so much warmth between the two friends. They make you feel calm.
Media: Acrylic paint and colored pencils ( )

I love this book and found it so touching that I almost cried the first time I read it to some students! They were enchanted, especially when they found out that it is a true story. Curricular connections - adoption and diverse families ( )

This book is great to use to connect to the nonfiction story of Owen and his mama