This story was very sad, but very hopeful in the end. I love how the author used 3 different words top to create this brilliant story. The emphasis and significance of punctuation throughout the book is huge! The question marks behind the word mama showed confusion and fear, sadness, and mournful. The exclamation marks showed: happiness, optimism, and gratefulness. The illustrations in this book also had a serious influence on the reader. The simple tear drops coming from the hippo's eyes made me very sympathetic for both the young hippo and the mother hippo. I love the note about the true story, it gives the book a touch of realness and entices the reader to have these emotions about what happens to animals in the wild. Great book! ( )

This adorable true story of a baby hippo who was separated from his mama when a tsunami struck in the Indian Ocean will melt your heart as the lost baby finds comfort in an unimaginable creature.
(Pair with "Owen & Mzee") ( )

Review: A story told by pictures and the simple words of "mama" and "baby," of a baby hippo loses his mother during a tsunami but finds a new home and a new mother.
Genre: Fantasy/informational
Critique: In this story, the animals (hippo and turtle) talk (by saying either "mama" or "baby"). Because of this personification, the story is fantasy. At the same time, it is also an informational book, because it is showing what happened to animals during the 2004 tsunami near Indonesia. In the back of the back is a description of this true story of a hippo. ( )

Summary: Based on a true story, a mama and baby hippo are always together-until a tsunami comes and tears them apart. The baby ends up being carried out to sea and washing up on shore far away from his home. He is found and taken to a wildlife reserve, all the while looking for his mama. He ends up finding a replacement mama in a giant tortoise. She accepts him, and they end up doing everything together.
Genre: informational/non-fiction
Media: acrylic ( )

This sweet book shares the true story of a hippo who lost his Mama in a tsunami. He happily befriends a tortoise. ( )