Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

The amazing true story of the orphaned baby hippo and 130-year-old giant turtle whose remarkable friendship touched millions around the world.

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.

Author: Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: 02/01/2006
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.96lbs
Size: 9.60h x 10.90w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780439829731
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 105794 / Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship


Award: Keystone to Reading Book Award - Nominee
Award: Buckaroo Book Award - Second Place
Award: Flicker Tale Children's Book Award - Winner
Award: Grand Canyon Reader Award - Nominee
Award: Book Sense Book of the Year Award - Winner
Award: Monarch Award - Nominee
Award: Nautilus Award - Winner
Award: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Rhode Island Children's Book Awards - Nominee
Award: Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended
Award: Virginia Readers Choice Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 02/13/2006 pg. 89
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2006 pg. 402 - Recommended
School Library Journal 05/01/2006 pg. 111
Booklist 05/15/2006 pg. 48
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2006 pg. 400 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw

About the Author

Peter Greste is the photo-illustrator of the bestselling Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship. Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship was published in the spring of 2006 and became an international phenomenon.

Peter is an internationally recognized photojournalist and broadcaster for the BBC. He currently lives in Mombasa, Kenya.

Craig Hatkoff is the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival and of Turtle Pond Publications. Both Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship are New York Times bestsellers. He lives with his wife and their two daughters in Manhattan.
Isabella Hatkoff is the co-author of bestselling Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship with her father, Craig Hatkoff, and ecologist Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship was published in the spring of 2006 and became an international phenomonen. She lives in Manhattan with her family