Saving Fiona

June 25, 2018
Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, where Fiona the hippo was born, provides a gripping behind-the-scenes look at the circumstances of her premature birth and the care given to her by zoo attendants. Readers are likely to be fascinated by the particulars of how the zoo team rallied around Fiona to ensure her survival. Crisp, engaging photographs show Fiona as she is fed formula from a bottle, kept warm, and cared for by nurses from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, who provided Fiona with a hippo IV. Maynard reflects on the role that social media played in drawing the public into Fiona’s story, as well as the lasting lesson that emerged from her enormous popularity: “Love carries the day and makes the impossible possible.” Ages 4–7.

July 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-A wonderful photo essay about Fiona, a baby hippo that was recently born premature at the Cincinnati Zoo. The story begins with the zoo receiving two hippos, Bibi and Henry, after 20 years hippo-less. Maynard describes basic facts about captive hippos (how zoo visitors love hippos, how they spend most of their time in their 70,000 gallon pool) before segueing into the challenges of caring for a pregnant hippo and Fiona's much celebrated birth. The narrative, accompanied by detailed photos, describes how staff cared for Fiona, emphasizing how important teamwork was in contributing to her health and growth. The phenomenon of Fiona on social media (#FionaFix) is briefly mentioned and the book ends with more hippo facts and an image of Fiona posing for her first birthday party-with cake, of course. From the photos to the message of a committed and caring staff, this book highlights a realistic approach to zoo care and the preservation of animals. VERDICT Bound to be a popular selection among young readers. An easy win for nonfiction collections.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

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