Maynard, Thane.
SAVING FIONA : THE STORY OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS BABY HIPPO
Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018
IL 3-6
ISBN 9781328485137

(2 booktalks)

Booktalk #1

Baby Fiona was a hippo born with all the odds against her: born prematurely, unable to eat, and barely surviving. Her caretakers at the Cincinnati Zoo refused to give up on her. Along with the support and love of the local community, baby Fiona overcame the odds to become the world’s most famous hippo. Today Fiona has over 1.5 million followers on Facebook. What makes people love baby Fiona? Find out why and more about this amazing and true story of baby Fiona. (Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award 2019-2020)

Booktalk #2

On January 24, 2017, the world’s first premature hippopotamus was born at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. No one knew how to take care of a hippo so small and fragile. Luckily, the zoo’s care team jumped into action! Day by day, the team learned ways to take care of the small hippo and day by day, Fiona grew stronger. They shared Fiona’s struggles and successes with world with #TeamFiona. This heartwarming story filled with photographs that chronicle Fiona’s journey reminds us all not to give up- anything is possible! (New Jersey Garden State Children's Book Award 2021)