A Remarkable Friendship of Owen and Mzee

Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

by: Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, Paula Kahumbu

Amazon Price: $1.97 (as of 06/03/2012)

When Craig Hatkoff and his seven-year-old daughter encountered a newspaper article about a baby hippo orphaned by the 2004 Indonesian tsunami. Parent, child, and a naturalist they consulted are credited as coauthors. The story has a simple, direct appeal: the hippo is dramatically rescued and brought to a Kenyan nature preserve, where it forms a surprising bond with a giant tortoise. Inspirational language about "the power of courage, love, and the preciousness of life" clutters the powerful facts, and not all of the photos are equally crisp and closely cued to the text. But children will nonetheless embrace the incident's compelling anthropomorphic elements, thoughtfully framed by the authors, and will exclaim over the images of the winsome baby and its grizzled surrogate parent.

Owen & Mzee: Language Of Friendship

by: Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu

Amazon Price: $4.49 (as of 06/03/2012)

This book updates children on its famous subjects through crisp, immediate photos taken at the Kenyan refuge they call home. The same complicated supporting cast is featured in this book, including a father-daughter team; a naturalist from the refuge; and photojournalist Greste, whose photos here are more varied, abundant, and consistent in quality than before. Along with assuring children that the bond between Owen and Mzee is "stronger than ever," the authors chronicle the animals' system of communication, involving nudges, nips, and even a special kind of call. Libraries that own the first title will certainly want to add this title; those that don't may wish to purchase just this one, which gives the necessary context and duplicates some elements from the earlier book, while extending the information--through references to naturalists' concerns about Owen's need to interact with other hippos, and about Mzee's safety as his companion grows to his 7,000-pound size--in a way that moves beyond the pat, heartwarming aspects of the incident to ask fascinating questions about animal behavior.

Owen & Mzee Doll Set

Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)

A Mama for Owen

by: Marion Dane Bauer

Amazon Price: $5.27 (as of 06/03/2012)

Marion Dane Bauer's A MAMA FOR OWEN tells of a baby hippo and his mama who are best friends and who love to play hide-and-seek in Africa, before the tsunami washes Owen's world away. The tsunami of 2004 serves as the inspiration for a gentle story of new friendships and changes, with John Butler's lovely realistic paintings spicing the story. Elementary-level readers will love it.

Will You Be My Mom?

Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 06/03/2012)

Owen and Mzee are also the subject of children's musician Marla Lewis's song 'Will You Be My Mom?', released on her 2007 album 'I Love To Talk To Plants',

Owen and Mzee: A Day Together

by: Craig Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 06/03/2012)