I’m a sucker for true animal stories, and it seems that I’m not alone. For 13 weeks now, Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle—about a stray dog in Iraq who befriends a Marine and how their lives changed as a result—has hovered on the New York Times Bestseller List for children’s books. This feel-good book, chock-full of photos that put you at the scene, reminds me of another picture book that came out several years ago titled Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship.

You may remember the photograph of the orphan baby hippo snuggling up to a giant tortoise that appeared in newspapers and on the Internet right after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. That photo inspired 6-year-old Isabella Hatkoff to ask her dad, Craig Hatkoff, to find out more about the unlikely pair. The two eventually wrote the book with Dr. Paula Kahumbu, who manages the Kenyan animal sanctuary where Owen, the baby hippo, and Mzee, the 130-year-old tortoise, live. The photos in the book were taken by Peter Greste, a photo-journalist who took the original photograph that captured the world’s attention. In simple, reassuring language that’s easy for kids to understand, the book tells the remarkable story of a young hippo rescued after losing his family in the tsunami and taken to a wildlife park. Weak and disoriented, the hippo—named Owen by his rescuers—makes a beeline for the loner tortoise known as Mzee. Owen follows Mzee everywhere until gradually the ancient tortoise begins to accept his unusual sidekick. They become inseparable—eating, swimming, and sleeping together.  

The success of this book spawned board books for the toddler-preschooler set and led to a sequel, Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship. This second book recaps the tsunami and the rescue but then goes on to tell more about the day-to-day friendship of the hippo and tortoise. In the year and a half they’ve been together, you find out how their relationship has developed. For instance, Owen has become more independent although Mzee is still the one who is clearly in charge. The two have even come up with their own “language.” They make soft, rumbling sounds to each other that hippos and tortoises don’t usually make. For kids who can’t get enough of the unusual duo, there’s a nifty Owen and Mzee Web site with additional information and activities.

Stories like these affirm that out of tragedy and adversity, good things can and do happen. There is always hope. With the help of caring people—like kind-hearted Marines or dedicated animal rescue workers—anything is possible. A great message for children and adults alike.

True animal stories have inspired a number of recent children’s books. Are there any you’d recommend?

Sandra Lee Rella, mother of two, is a freelance editor and writer, and a former children's book review editor.