For a child navigating loss or loneliness, this true story beautifully illustrates how connection and friendship can bloom in unexpected places, even after hardship.
A parent might reach for this book when a child is grappling with loss, loneliness, or a major life change that has left them feeling adrift. Based on a true story, Owen & Mzee tells of a baby hippopotamus who was orphaned and separated from his family by a tsunami. Rescued and brought to an animal sanctuary in Kenya, he forms an incredible, loving bond with a 130-year-old tortoise named Mzee. This book uses stunning real-life photographs to gently explore themes of grief, resilience, and the healing power of unlikely friendships. It’s an excellent choice for animal-loving children, as it provides a safe, concrete example of how connection and comfort can be found even after a scary and sad experience.
The hippo is shown stranded and alone after a natural disaster before being rescued.
Sensitive Topics
The book directly addresses the death of a parent/family and trauma from a natural disaster. Owen is described as being swept away and left "all alone." The approach is factual and gentle, focusing on Owen's emotional state (frightened, lonely) rather than graphic details of the tsunami. The resolution is entirely hopeful, emphasizing the healing power of found family and community care. The context is secular.
Ideal Reader
This book is ideal for a 4 to 7-year-old child experiencing grief, parental separation, or significant upheaval like a move or starting a new school. It's particularly effective for a child who processes emotions better through animal stories and finds comfort in real-life events. It speaks directly to the feeling of being small, alone, and in need of a protector.
Parent Prep
A parent should preview the first few pages (specifically pages 6-9 in the Scholastic edition) that depict the tsunami and Owen's rescue. The image of the struggling hippo surrounded by people and nets, combined with the text about his loss, could be upsetting for very sensitive children. The rest of the book is gentle and requires no special preparation. A parent has seen their child become withdrawn or anxious after the death of a family member, a pet, or after a disruptive event. The child might be verbalizing fears of being alone or expressing deep sadness, and the parent is looking for a gentle, non-threatening way to start a conversation about finding comfort and new connections.
Age Experience
A younger child (4-5) will primarily connect with the sweet story of two very different animals becoming best friends. They will focus on the photos and the simple acts of companionship. An older child (6-8) will better understand the context of the tsunami and the gravity of Owen's loss. They can grasp the deeper themes of resilience, empathy, and the concept of a non-traditional family.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many fictional books on loss, its power lies in its authenticity. The use of real photographs of Owen and Mzee together provides irrefutable, concrete proof that hope and new bonds are possible after tragedy. This makes the message of resilience and found family incredibly tangible and believable for a child.
Read plot summary
This nonfiction picture book tells the true story of Owen, a baby hippo, who is orphaned and stranded after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He is rescued and relocated to Haller Park, an animal facility in Kenya. There, frightened and alone, he seeks comfort from Mzee, a giant Aldabra tortoise. Initially resistant, Mzee soon accepts Owen, and the two form a deep, interspecies bond, acting like a mother and child. The book documents their friendship through simple text and powerful photographs.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
At first, Mzee the tortoise hissed at Owen and tried to get away. Why do you think he acted that way? What do you think made him change his mind?
2
The book says Owen was looking for a mother, and that Mzee became like a mother to him. Can a friend also feel like family? What makes someone feel like family?
3
Owen and Mzee are very different from each other. Can you name three ways they are different? What were some of the things they enjoyed doing together despite their differences?
4
The people who rescued Owen were helpers. When you feel sad or scared like Owen did, who are the helpers in your life you can go to?
