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About the author
Richard Cowdrey's favorite things to draw and paint are the things that reflect the awesomeness of God and his creation. From vast landscapes to the littlest bug on a leaf, Richard marvels at the beauty in the details. Richard's bestselling children's books include Fiona the Hippo, Legend of the Candy Cane, Bad Dog, Marley and A Very Marley Christmas.
Summary
Fiona, the famous hippo from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, was not expected to live, born prematurely at only 29 pounds. But her inspiring story of spunk and determination captured hearts around the world. Cheer on smart, sassy, and fearless Fiona as she defeats the odds and becomes a happy, healthy hippopotamus.
Fiona the Hippo teaches children:
- Anything is possible with positivity and perseverance
- Never give up, no matter what the odds
- Love and support from others are powerful
In this whimsical and inspiring tale, children will:
- Laugh as they read about Fiona letting out a snort, wiggling her ears, and saying, "I’ve got this."
- Be delighted to meet Fiona’s lovable animal friends at the zoo
Fiona the Hippo, by
New York Times bestselling artist Richard Cowdrey (
Bad Dog, Marley), is a heroine for children and adults everywhere, and she will steal hearts and give readers the courage to face whatever challenges they might have in their own lives.
Check out other titles in the Fiona the Hippo series:
- Fiona, It’s Bedtime
- A Very Fiona Christmas
Additional text
Cowdrey (Bad Dog, Marley!) takes an anthropomorphic approach to Fiona's story by introducing a cast of talking zoo animals eager to meet her. Fiona is rendered with a big smile, long eyelashes, and a chunky pink-gray body. Cowdrey conveys the excitement surrounding her birth (zoo attendees in scrubs surround Fiona, taking pictures on their cell phones), and describes Fiona's developmental milestones: she drinks from a bottle and learns to walk and swim. The other animals, which include a tortoise, flamingo, giraffe, and bear, are as captivated by Fiona as her human fans--and Fiona finally wants to meet them, too: 'and thinsp;'Did you hear that?' 'It's our turn to play with the baby!'and thinsp;' Though Cowdrey doesn't give readers much sense of the peril Fiona initially faced, the exuberant animal characters offer an engaging introduction to her story. Ages 4--8. (Aug.)
