Looking for Miza

A true story about a family of silver back mountain gorillas that saved one of their own.

Miza and her mother Lessinjina, were lost in the congo, but Miza would have survived even if they didn’t find Miza because before she got lost, she was able to find food on her own.

The Hatkoff family, together with co-author Dr. Paula Kahumbu and photographer Peter Greste, are best known for their presentation of the inspiring true story of Owen, a baby hippo orphaned by the 2004 tsunami, who was adopted by an ancient Aldabra tortoise named Mzee. In their latest picture book, Looking for Miza, the team turn their attention to a family of mountain gorillas living in Virunga National Park, in the Congo.

When baby Miza and her mother go missing, park rangers Innocent and Diddy begin the search, but it is Kabirizi, the silverback leader of the troop, who finds the little gorilla, and brings her home. Although not the strongest Hatkoff title available, young animal lovers will enjoy this informative picture book, illustrated with beautiful color photographs. Some information about threats to mountain gorillas - one of the most endangered species on earth - are included at the end. ( )

The Hatkoffs are really stretching for story ideas, I guess... While they do present some interesting information about gorillas (including how the park rangers identify them by their unique nose prints!), this is basically a book about a baby gorilla who went missing for several days and then was found by her gorilla dad. No one knows what happened to her or how she was found and I don't know why I should care.

Unlike the unusual and interesting animal story presented in Owen and Mzee, this is a skimpy stretch of a story. Skip it and pick up Gorilla Doctors by Pamela S. Turner instead. ( )

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