A Very Fiona Christmas

October 7, 2019
In the second of a series, internet sensation Fiona the Hippo, who was born six weeks prematurely at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2017, celebrates Christmas. With the zoo lights shining and a festive feeling in the air, Fiona goes searching for the true meaning of the holiday. She slides down a snowy bank with the penguins, admires the zoo’s Christmas tree, and meets reindeer, but still seeks an answer: “What’s Christmas, Mama?” Cowdrey illustrates in a cozy, inviting art style that—while it doesn’t offer much verisimilitude relating to Fiona’s backstory—will appeal to younger readers invested in the characters. A predictable narrative arc (Fiona discovers that the true meaning of Christmas is giving to others) is nevertheless sweetly uplifting. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 4–8.