Fiona's Feelings - by John Hutton (Board Book)

About the Book

"When the Cincinnati Zoo's baby hippo Fiona was born six weeks early, she was too small and weak to stand and nurse from her mother. With help from #TeamFiona, this once-tiny hippo is growing stronger every day. As Fiona explores the world around her, she is at times happy, mad, curious, and playful, as all children can be."

Book Synopsis

When the Cincinnati Zoo's baby hippo, Fiona, was born six weeks early, she was too small and weak to stand and nurse from her mother. With help from #TeamFiona, this once-tiny hippo is growing stronger every day. As Fiona explores the world around her, she is at times happy, mad, curious, and playful, as all children can be. Young readers will love exploring Fiona's feelings--and their own--while building important language and social-emotional skills.

Review Quotes

"A photogenic hippo models emotions and behaviors in an undeniably winning board book.... Each page offers one photo and one clear concept that should resonate with the board-book audience, providing children with vocabulary for their own emotions and expressions...Tots will find Fiona a welcome nursery presence." --Kirkus Reviews

"Fiona's Feelings is a joyous board book that small children will treasure." --midwestbookreview.com

"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.' -Della Farrell, School Library Journal

"Hello, friends! We are so excited about today's review: Fiona's Feelings, written by Dr. John Hutton and featuring the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden's photographs of the internet's favorite baby hippo, Fiona! Using real photographs of Fiona's remarkably expressive face, this beginner's board book explores emotions like happiness, anger, silliness and pride, using simple rhyming sentences that are four to six words apiece. Objectively, this is absolutely a fad book, but so delightful that it's hard to care. For the unaware, Fiona the hippo became a media sensation when she was born six weeks premature at the Cincinnati Zoo, and the internet fell in love with her sweet face and playful personality as the zoo documented her care, recovery, and growth. And indeed, Fiona has a curiously emotive face and a rascally nature that makes a book of feelings featuring her a great fit. The rhyming text flows well and keeps things basic, but still has a lot of charm in keeping with the Fiona spirit. The quality of the photos was a little inconsistent, which was distracting to me, but JJ didn't seem to notice or care. The length is perfect for the youngest of bookworms, and we really enjoyed it. So whether the Fiona craze ends up having staying power or not in the fickle minds of the internet, this board book is classically adorable enough to be timeless on it's own. Baby Bookworm approved!" --thebabybookwormblog

About the Author

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest zoo in the United States. Its mission is dedicated to creating adventure, conveying knowledge, conserving nature, and serving the community. Dr. John Hutton is a pediatrician, early literacy researcher and author from Cincinnati, OH.