Owen and Mzee

by Craig Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff, Dr. Paula Kahumbu

The inspiring true story of two great friends, a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-yr-old giant tortoise named Mzee (Mm-ZAY). When Owen was stranded after the Dec 2004 tsunami, villagers in Kenya worked tirelessly to rescue him. Then, to everyone's amazement, the orphan hippo and the elderly tortoise adopted each other. Now they are inseparable, swimming, eating, and playing together. Adorable photos e-mailed from friend to friend quickly made them worldwide celebrities. Here is a joyous reminder that in times of trouble, friendship is stronger than the differences that too often pull us apart.

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award
New York Times bestseller
ALA Notable Children's Book

* "'Remarkable' seems too tame a word for this memorable book about a friendship between two wild creatures."
— Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "This touching story of the power of a surprising friendship to mitigate the experience of loss is full of heart and hope. " — School Library Journal, starred review

Ages: 8, 9, 10
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.7
Lexile Measure: 920L
DRA: 50
Guided Reading: T
Number of Pages: 40
Genre: Informational

About the Authors

Craig Hatkoff Craig Hatkoff is the cofounder of the Tribeca Film Festival and of Turtle Pond Publications. He has co-authored the best selling Owen & Mzee: the True Story of a Remarkable Friendship and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship with his daughter, Isabella, and an ecolgoist, Dr. Paula Kahumbu.

Isabella Hatkoff

Dr. Paula Kahumbu Dr. Paula Kahumbu, co-author of the bestselling Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship, oversees Owen and Mzee's care in Mombasa, Kenya.