Hanna's Cold Winter

By Trish Marx

Book Overview

She was a hippopotamus and her name was Hanna. The zoo in Budapest, a city famous for its hippos, was home. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in warm springs that flowed naturally from underground. The people of Budapest were proud of their hippos and often visited Hanna and her friends in their special house at the zoo.

One winter it was so cold that the river between the twin towns of Buda and Pest froze. There was a war going on, and people and animals were starving. But the people of Budapest made a plan to save their beloved hippos.

This heartwarming story, based on a true incident that took place during World War II, is beautifully told by author Trish Marx. Barbara Knutson's charming illustrations magically evoke the faraway place and time.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DY21NG8M
• ISBN13: 9798888181270
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Purple House Press
• Length: 34 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.0" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A beautiful book!

We love this book! We lived in Budapest for four years and finding this book was a delightful surprise. The kids thrilled to see familiar places painted in wonderful watercolor. And the story is beautiful too - very moving. I am sorely tempted to buy copies of this book for all our friends, relatives, co-workers, etc.

I want to visit Budapest

I really had no opinion of the book until I read it again. This time I tried to put together an image of Budapest by way of the narration. I had to put the pieces together, like a fleeting memory, to see through the eyes of the narrator. The narration flows in a seemingly vague manner that ultimately constructs a memory that is specific and real. The illustrations have this same dream-like accuracy. I enjoyed this book only after taking a second look. I'd like to go there and put all the abstract to bed.

Hanna's Cold Winter

This is a wonderful story that reveals the finer side of human nature. In spite of the hardships of winter and the shortages caused by World War II, the people of Budapest find a way to save their beloved hippopotamuses. The story in itself is uplifting, but it would also be a great springboard to discussion of the realities of war and the human spirit.