SLIS 5420 - Owen & Mzee

Week Seven: Informational / Nonfiction – Owen & Mzee      
  

Book Summary: 

         December 26, 2004, a tsunami stranded a baby hippo, later named Owen after the man who helped save his life, off the coast of Malindi, Africa.  He was transported with great difficulty to a wildlife refuge, Heller Park, where he was placed in an enclosure that also included a giant Aldabra tortoise named Mzee.  At about 130-years-old, Mzee was not friendly, yet Owen hid behind him, followed him around the enclosure, and finally befriended Mzee.  This unusual bond helped Owen the hippo recover from the tragedy of loosing his family and seemed to give Mzee something to care about making their friendship a surprise no one could have planned. 

APA Reference:  

Hatkoff, I., HAtkoff, C., & Kahumbu, P. (2006). Owen and Mzee: The true story of a remarkable friendship. New York, NY: 
          Scholastic Press. 

My Impressions: 

         The story of Owen and Mzee is just one of several touching tales of animals that shouldn’t be friends becoming inseparable.  When I was young, Koko’s Kitten was the popular story of an unlikely pairing, a kitten and gorilla.  I think the same “awe” factor applies to the story of Owen and Mzee. 

         The fact that Owen lost his family in a natural disaster makes this story relatable to so many children who lost loved ones, pets, homes, and their lives as they knew them to hurricanes and other natural disasters in the past several years.  And once the reader realizes this book was created by a 6-year-old girl, her father, the photographer who captured the image of Owen stranded, and the ecologist who cares for the animals, the story comes to life in a way that does not seem to happen when random authors take on a real story. 

         This is a wonderful, heartwarming story of two animals that, by normal accounts, should not be friends.  Despite their differences, they have learned to play together and even eat meals together.  This informational book tells a tale that is interesting and draws readers in.  The sequel, Owen and Mzee: The Language of Friendship, goes further into their journey together, and shows difficulties that arise once Owen becomes quite a bit larger than Mzee.  Both books are recommended reading.  

Professional Review: 

          When the six-year-old contributor to this book saw the photograph documenting the extraordinary friendship between a baby hippo (Owen) and a 130-year-old giant tortoise (Mzee), she persuaded her father to help tell their story. Originally an e-book, the hardcover version begins with images of the duo, whetting readers' appetite and providing reassurance as the potentially disturbing plot unfolds. After a scene depicting a pod of hippos near the Sabuki River in Kenya, the text describes the 600-pound baby's displacement and separation from the group during the 2004 tsunami. Children witness the challenging rescue and meet the knowledgeable staff at an animal sanctuary. From Owen's first approach for protection to Mzee's unexpected tolerance, the photographs, mostly by BBC photojournalist Greste, capture the pair eating, swimming, snuggling, and playing together. Their contentment and peace are palpable. Because it is sensitively structured, with careful choices about what is emphasized and illustrated, the situation does not overwhelm readers. The text and the back matter are brimming with information about the animals, their caregivers, and the locale. This touching story of the power of a surprising friendship to mitigate the experience of loss is full of heart and hope. A worthy complement is Ann Morris and Heidi Larson's glimpse at a human family's loss and recovery in Tsunami: Helping Each Other (Millbrook, 2005).

Lukehart, W. (2006, May). Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship [Review of the book Owen & Mzee: 
          The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by I. Hatkoff, C. Hatkoff, & P. Kahumbu]. School Library Journal,  
          52(5), 111. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses: 

         Owen and Mzee’s story would be wonderful to share with older elementary students in a story time centered on animal friendships.  Both informational, nonfiction, and fiction books could be used, and the librarian could discuss the impact of natural disasters on animals or why unlikely animals are attracted to each other.  On the website, http://www.owenandmzee.com/omweb/, there is a link to “Mzee’s Secret.”  When you click on the reveal, it outlines the shape of a hippo’s face in the tortoise’s shell.  The librarian could ask if children thought this was the reason Owen gravitated to Mzee so quickly.  It would be interesting to hear the kids theories on the strange friendship.