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Hansa, The True Story of an Asian Elephant Baby

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"Early one November morning at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, an Asian elephant named Chai rocked from side to side on her huge legs. She was about to give birth to her first baby."

In November of  2000, after a twenty-two month pregnancy, one of the Woodland Park Zoo’s female elephants  delivered a healthy female calf, one of only three Asian elephants born in a North America zoo that year. The calf was named Hansa which means “supreme happiness” in Thailand, the country where her mother was born. Clare’s story traces the important events and challenges of Hansa’s first year of life - bonding with her mother, learning to control her trunk and being accepted by the other members of the all-female herd. The story also explores the relationship between the herd and their five elephant keepers who approach one of the most dangerous jobs in the world with enthusiasm and total dedication.

Reviews:

"…tells the story of the elephant’s amazing birth and educates readers on the animals’ habits, habitats and care."
Publishers Weekly  June 10, 2002

"…Hansa is chock-full of photographs, illustrations, facts and tales about life as an elephant in the Woodland park herd and in the wild."
Communique (American Zoo and Aquarium Association) January, 2003

"Clare Hodgson Meeker does an outstanding job of telling the story of Hansa and the other elephants…Sharing this entertaining little book with children is one way to ensure that the next generation understands and values the animal life on Earth. Highly recommended."                 
The Internet Writing Journal  September 2002
            
"…Filled cover to cover with true facts about elephants and splendid color photographs from the Woodland Park Zoo, Hansa is very highly recommended for young people who want to learn more about this wondrous, exotic animal species."
Midwest Book Review Summer, 2002

Publishing Information:

Written by Clare Hodgson Meeker
Photographs from Woodland Park Zoo
Illustrations by Linda Feltner
Published in simultaneous hard cover and paperback by Sasquatch Books 2002
ISBN: 157061-344-3

LINKS:

Read my essay about Hansa puiblished in the Seattle Times Newpaper .

www.zoo.org
www.sasquatchbooks.com

Can I Quote You ?

Testimonials

At a staff meeting today one of the teachers showed a dramatic change in one student’s writing that she attributed to Clare’s work with her class. The student analyzed the earlier writing stating that she needed to include more details, add conversation to move her writing forward, and to improve the ending. Then the student wrote a second piece which did just that!

- Marilyn Loveness, Principal, West Woodland Elementary



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2005 Washington State Library's Washington Summer Reads Selection on the theme of "courage."

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  • Hansa, The True Story of an Asian Elephant Baby

    "Early one November morning at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, an Asian elephant named Chai rocked from side to side on her huge legs. She was about to give birth to her first baby."

    In November of  2000, after a twenty-two month pregnancy, one of the Woodland Park Zoo’s female elephants  delivered a healthy female calf, one of only three Asian elephants born in a North America zoo that year. The calf was named Hansa which means “supreme happiness” in Thailand, the country where her mother was born.
    .
  • Lootas

    Selected as a 1999 Notable Book for Children by Smithsonian Magazine

    "All alone, in the cold quiet waters of Uganik Bay in southern Alaska, a sea otter gave birth to a female pup. Floating on her back, she licked the small wet ball of fur nestled on her belly."

    .
  • Who wakes the rooster

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  • Partner In Revolution: Abigail Adams

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