< Board Books

Fiona's FRiends

Say "Hello" to Fiona's Friends!

Fiona, was born six weeks before her due date on January 24, 2017. She was too small and weak to stand and nurse from her mother, Bibi, so caregivers and vet staff stepped in to provide critical care. With help from #TeamFiona, the premature hippo grew into a healthy hippo and an amazing ambassador for her species.

Fiona's Cincinnati Zoo friends are also ambassadors. Some of the species represented in this book, like black rhinos and Malayan tigers, are critically endangered. There is hope for them, but people must care enough to want to save them. Seeing amazing creatures like these at a zoo can inspire that kind of powerful connection and make our planet a better place.

Click here to learn more about Fiona's story.

Reviews:

"Featuring photographs of each animal, Hutton offers playful, rhyming descriptions: 'Elle the gorilla munches a snack. Winsol the aardvark sleeps on his back.' ... but the vibrant photos of baby animals, bookended by images of Fiona herself, offer much to love: 'Fiona and friends are love-ly, it’s true. They’re all very special, just like you!'" --Publishers Weekly

"Readers will be hard-pressed to find a hippo as cute as Fiona, the titular star of this joyful, photo-illustrated board book. Fiona, a resident of the Cincinnati zoo, is a social media sensation for a reason: her vivid expressions communicate a range of simple and complex emotions, from happiness to “swimming proud.” An adorable selection for little ones who, like Fiona, are 'growing bigger and stronger.'" --School Library Journal (on Fiona's Feelings)

"'Fiona's Feelings' is an incredible board book photo-poem portrait of a baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo, born January 24, 2017. Fiona has an expressive face and body, and like all juveniles, she has a variety of feelings which she clearly expresses. Young children will love tracing her explorations of feeling happy, sad, silly, mad, scared, proud, sleepy, loud, shy, fun, lazy, hungry, strong, and loved. The rhyming narrative encourages young readers to identify with Fiona's expression of different feelings, creating ever essential building blocks of language, communication, and other socio-emotional skills. 'Fiona's Feelings' is a joyous board book that small children will treasure." --Midwest Book Review (on Fiona's Feelings)

Buy Fiona’s Friends

Families and individuals can purchase blue manatee press books at many independent bookstores around the United States, so shop local and support small businesses by checking out the stores in your area or shop using the Indiebound or Bookshop buttons below! You can also purchase this book online through the Amazon, Barns & Noble, or Indigo (CA) buttons below.

Shop Local

You can help support local and independent bookstores by purchasing blue manatee press books from Indiebound or Bookshop. Simply click either of the buttons below, and search by book or by location!

Shop Online

blue manatee press books are distributed by IPG and available at most major online retail locations such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo (Canada).