Looking For Miza (Hardcover)

by Juliana Hatkoff (Author), Isabella Hatkoff (Author), Craig Hatkoff (Author), Paula Kahumbu (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Like Owen & Mzee (2006), this photo-essay tells the story of a wild animal that loses its mother. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, two rangers receive the disturbing news that Miza, a baby mountain gorilla, and her mother have disappeared. When they reach Miza’s family, her father, Kabirizi, has already left to look for the missing. He returns with Miza. Fearful and very hungry, she slowly recovers and survives. Readers will quickly respond to the vulnerable little gorilla’s story, told in large color photos as well as text. In this volume, unlike many others on endangered African wildlife, the people trying to help the gorillas are African rather than European or American, and the most heroic figure is an animal, Kabirizi, who looks after his family capably without human intervention. Back matter includes information on threats to mountain gorillas (only 700 remain) and on organizations that are working to preserve the species and their habitat. Grades 2-5. --Carolyn Phelan

Product Description

In a magical place called the Congo, in the beautiful forests and jungles of Virunga National Park, lives a young female mountain gorilla named Miza. She was just like any other baby gorilla, riding on her mother's back, playing, taking naps. Then, one day, when Miza and her mother were out searching for food, Miza's mother disappeared, leaving her baby alone and frightened. Miza's father, a fierce silverback named Kabirizi and the leader of Virunga's largest family of mountain gorillas, set out to find Miza. The Congolese rangers, who dedicate their lives to protecting the gorillas, were searching for Miza, too. Everyone was worried about her. Then something amazing happened: Kabirizi found Miza and brought her back to live with her family.

Virunga is home to roughly 380 mountain gorillas, just over half of the planet's remaining mountain gorilla population. Miza and other mountain gorillas face an especially uncertain future. They are an endangered species, disappearing at an alarming speed. Without our help they could vanish completely.

Filled with lush photographs by award-winning photographer Peter Greste, LOOKING FOR MIZA is a powerful call to action. The fate of these majestic creatures is in our hands. This is Miza's story. It's our story, too.  

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545085403
• ISBN-13: 978-0545085403
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #115,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthustiastic chest thumps!, September 9, 2008

By	N. Chilton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Moving, inspiring, informative, beautifully illustrated, and very, very important. This is a true story about one family of mountain gorillas, living in the Virunga National Forest (currently occupied by rebel army forces) and their attempts to return a lost orphan to their fold. "Miza" will engage your mind and steal your heart. You cannot ignore the plight of these magnificent creatures whose lives hang in such delicate balance, threatened by deforestation, poaching, and infection and war. Their innocence, so similar to our own, is poignantly and simply stated: "When gorillas feel safe, they play."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very touching, December 20, 2008

By	G. Bartilucci "amazingrace" (Plainview, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This story will certainly make you think if there really is a definite "line" separating us from our primate cousins. The more I read, the more I believe WE are like the apes and not vice versa.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, January 11, 2009

By	Robin C. Dusek "RD" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a wonderful story and all true. It truly teaches children about some of the problems that mountain gorillas are facing. One warning. The mother is never found. For some children, this may be difficult to understand/accept.